Francofonia

2015 | France, Germany, Netherlands | NR | 88 min.

Showings

Milliken at the Dennos Museum Wed, Jul 27, 2016 9:00 AM
Bijou by the Bay Fri, Jul 29, 2016 12:00 PM
Film Info
Section:Foreign Official Selection: Documentary
Movies for Smart People
Release Year:2015
Runtime:88 min.
Rating:NR
Production Country:France
Germany
Netherlands
Original Language:English
French
German
Russian
Subtitles:English
Cast/Crew Info
Cast:Louis-Do de Lencquesaing
Benjamin Utzerath
Vincent Nemeth
Johanna Korthals Altes
Andrey Chelpanov
Director:Alexander Sokurov
Screenwriter:Alexander Sokurov
Cinematography:Bruno Delbonnel
Editing By:Hansjörg Weißbrich

Description

Among the countless personal and cultural tragedies that unfolded during WWII, one potential loss—the desecration of the Louvre in Paris—was mercifully averted thanks to an unlikely and remarkable partnership between two enemies. During the tumultuous Nazi Occupation, with the museum at risk of being ransacked, the German officer assigned to seize the museum’s treasures defied his superiors. His actions, and those of the Louvre’s head administrator, ultimately ensured the survival of the museum’s priceless artifacts. The retelling of the duo’s story is just one of many breathtaking threads Aleksandr Sokurov (“Russian Ark”) weaves into this tapestry of art, history, and filmmaking. Featuring stunning aerial shots of Paris, and whimsical fantasy sequences of art, not to mention the ghost of Napoleon coming to life, this enthralling and visionary tribute to the spirit of civilization is unlike anything you have ever seen, or will ever see again.