The Great Arch
2025
Drama / History
1h44
MKA Richard rated ★ 7/10
1983, François Mitterrand décide de lancer un concours d'architecture international pour le projet phare de sa présidence : la Grande Arche de la Défense, dans l'axe du Louvre et de l'Arc de Triomphe ! A la surprise générale, Otto von Spreckelsen, architecte danois, remporte le concours. Du jour au lendemain, cet homme de 53 ans, inconnu en France, débarque à Paris où il est propulsé à la tête de ce chantier pharaonique. Et si l'architecte entend bâtir la Grande Arche telle qu’il l’a imaginée, ses idées vont très vite se heurter à la complexité du réel et aux aléas de la politique.
Synopsis
1983. The biggest architectural competition in history, both anonymous and open, is launched under the impetus of a new socialist president, François Mitterrand. Coveted by all the biggest international architectural firms, the competition is surprisingly won by an unknown: Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, an architecture teacher from Copenhagen. Until then, the fifty-year-old Danish had only built 4 buildings: his home and three small chapels.
Community Reviews
Viewers are captivated by 'The Great Arch,' a film that delves into the dramatic and political complexities of a monumental architectural project in Paris. The film is praised for its historical depth, strong performances, and the poignant portrayal of an architect's struggle against bureaucratic and political obstacles. However, some viewers felt the film was overly guided, lacking in imagination, and sometimes slow, with a focus that might be too narrow for those interested in broader historical or technical contexts.
👍 Strong performances and historical depth
👎 May feel overly guided and slow
