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L’Inconnu de la Grande Arche Opens Wednesday in French Cinemas

Demoustier’s drama revisits the Mitterrand‑era monument through Laurence Cossé’s investigation to probe creation versus state control.

Overview

  • Critics describe the film as an architectural suspense piece that reconstructs the 1980s political ecosystem around a national megaproject.
  • Claes Bang leads the cast as Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, with Sidse Babett Knudsen, Xavier Dolan, Swann Arlaud, and Michel Fau portraying François Mitterrand.
  • The story follows the Danish architect’s 1983 competition win, his struggle over compromises, his resignation, and his death in 1987 before the 1989 inauguration.
  • Reporting notes the production secured exceptional permission to shoot scenes at the Élysée palace.
  • Coverage highlights the project’s scale and complexity, citing a state cost near 3.5 billion francs, roughly 2,000 workers, and the involvement of engineer Paul Andreu.