Overview
- The feature by Stéphane Demoustier arrived in French theaters on November 5 after a Cannes Un Certain Regard berth.
- The film retraces Danish architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen’s path to designing the Grande Arche at La Défense, drawing directly from Laurence Cossé’s 2016 investigation.
- Coverage details the project’s technical, administrative and political headwinds, including the appointment of pragmatist Paul Andreu and a largely French onsite workforce.
- Spreckelsen’s resignation and 1987 death are presented as part of the historical record, preceding the monument’s 1989 inauguration.
- Reports single out meticulous period reconstruction and notable access for scenes set at the Élysée, with a cast led by Claes Bang, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Xavier Dolan, Swann Arlaud and Michel Fau over a 1h46 runtime.