Overview
- The French drama follows Danish architect Otto von Spreckelsen after François Mitterrand’s 1983 competition awards him the La Défense commission for a monument conceived to align with the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre pyramid.
- The film traces the professional, political and material hurdles that confront the architect as he tries to protect his design from interference.
- Director Stéphane Demoustier calls the movie a free interpretation and frames the arch as a symbol of ambition and later decline, noting the 2014 replacement of its original marble with granite.
- Claes Bang portrays von Spreckelsen in memorized French despite not speaking the language before filming, a choice colleagues say heightens on-screen distance between characters.
- Following its 2025 Cannes Un Certain Regard selection, the film won two César Awards on February 26 for best set decoration and best visual effects.