La Grande Arche

In the early 1980s, French President François Mitterrand launches an international architectural competition for the Grande Arche in Paris’s La Défense business district, intended as a modern counterpart to the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. To everyone’s surprise, the unknown Danish architect Otto von Spreckelsen wins. For him, the victory feels like the crowning achievement of his work, but once in Paris, the dream project collides with his stubbornness, the harsh realities of the city, and the whims of politics.

Director Stéphane Demoustier brings the story to life with tension and humor, focusing in particular on the psychological journey of the underappreciated architect. The film is based on the novel La Grande Arche by Laurence Cossé and premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival.