French cinema experts Matteu Maestracci and Thierry Fiorile have highlighted two compelling new films in their weekly movie review segment, with particular praise for "L'inconnu de la Grande Arche" (The Unknown of the Grande Arche), a witty and ambitious architectural thriller directed by Stéphane Demoustier. The film tells the remarkable true story of Johan Otto Von Spreckelsen, the Danish architect who designed one of Paris's most iconic modern monuments.
The Grande Arche referenced in the title is the massive cubic structure that dominates La Défense, Paris's premier business district. The "unknown" is its architect, Johan Otto Von Spreckelsen, a Danish designer who was completely off the radar when he won the design competition in 1983. His unexpected victory launched what would become a captivating saga of conflicting visions and competing interests.
The film chronicles the intense drama that unfolded between several opposing viewpoints: the ambitious and idealistic vision of the artist versus the more pragmatic and constrained perspective of the French state, which had to monitor both the cost and timeline of the massive construction project. Adding another layer of complexity was the involvement of then-President François Mitterrand, who was determined to leave his mark on Paris's historic axis – the famous alignment that stretches from the Louvre through the Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, and the Champs-Élysées to La Défense. This was during an era when France still had the financial means to pursue grand cultural ambitions.
Despite its architectural subject matter, critics emphasize that the film is far from a dry architectural manual. Instead, "L'inconnu de la Grande Arche" is described as funny, well-paced, erudite, and engaging – almost like a thriller in its execution. The stellar cast brings the story to life with remarkable performances, featuring Claes Bang in the lead role as the Danish architect, alongside Swann Arlaud portraying Paul Andreu, his associate.
The supporting cast is equally impressive, with Xavier Dolan delivering a hilarious performance as a stressed presidential advisor, Michel Fau brilliantly embodying François Mitterrand, and Danish actress Sidse Babett Knudsen from the acclaimed series "Borgen," who has been appearing increasingly in French productions.
The review segment also covered "Les Braises" (The Embers) by director Thomas Kruithof, which takes viewers back seven years to autumn 2018, at the beginning of the Yellow Vest movement in France. Kruithof, who previously created the well-received political film "Les Promesses" about the behind-the-scenes world of politics, aims to capture the atmosphere of this period to tell the story of a movement that he believes was poorly understood or caricatured in media and political discourse.
The film approaches this sensitive subject through an intimate lens, following a couple who are neither rich nor poor but managing to get by as best they can. Karine works in a factory while Jimmy drives trucks for a living. The story follows Karine as she gradually becomes more involved in the roundabout protests and discovers a kind of new family among the protesters. While the subject matter is risky, critics note that the treatment is both fair and successful, thanks largely to the performances by Virginie Efira and Arieh Worthalter. Despite some minor flaws in the final act, the film is considered worth watching for its nuanced portrayal of a complex social movement.
