The Great Arch

2025, France – Denmark, 104 min., Feature, Biographical drama, Historical

Director: Stéphane Demoustier
Script: Stéphane Demoustier (based on the novel by Laurence Cossé)
Director of Photography: David Chambille
Cast: Claes Bang, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Xavier Dolan, Swann Arlaud, Michel Fau
Producer: Muriel Meynard (Agat Films – Ex Nihilo), Zentropa, France 3 Cinéma

In 1982, French President François Mitterrand launches an international competition for a monumental project: the Great Arch of La Défense. The winner is the obscure Danish architect Otto von Spreckelsen, whose vision for a “humanist” monument surprises the world. Suddenly thrust into the spotlight of Paris, Spreckelsen finds himself at odds with political agendas, rigid bureaucracy, and escalating costs. As his dream becomes an obsession, he must fight to preserve his artistic integrity. The film is a masterfully crafted study of the balance between idealistic design and political compromise.


Stéphane Demoustier

Stéphane Demoustier (born in 1977 in Lille, France) is a director and producer known for his versatility and keen eye for human drama. He gained international acclaim with “The Girl with a Bracelet” (2019), which won the César Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. In “The Great Arch,” he masterfully navigates the intersection of history and fiction, creating a compelling character study of an artist under pressure.

FILMOGRAPHY

2025 – The Great Arch / L’Inconnu de la Grande Arche
2023 – Borgo
2019 – The Girl with a Bracelet / La Fille au bracelet
2017 – Cléo & Paul
2014 – 40-Love (Terre battue)

FESTIVALS, AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

2026 – Best Screenplay – Lumière Awards, France
2025 – Golden Leaf (Best Film) – France Odeon, Florence
2025 – Nomination: Un Certain Regard – Cannes Film Festival
2025 – Official Selection – AFI Fest, USA
2025 – Official Selection – Busan International Film Festival
2025 – Nomination: Best International Film – Jerusalem Film Festival