We are pleased to open the 30th anniversary of the Chichester Film Festival with this epic French period drama.
The government is asking Eiffel to design something spectacular for the 1889 Paris World Fair, but Eiffel simply wants to design the subway. Suddenly, everything changes when Eiffel crosses paths with a mysterious woman from Arun's past.
"We’re going to build a dream, a tower 300 metres tall, made wholly of metal, in the middle of Paris, and everyone will benefit from it". It is September 1886 and the Washington Monument, inaugurated the year before, has set a new benchmark of 169 metres in height in the tiny world of creators of large, international monuments. In the context of the World Fair, which is due to unfold in Paris 1889, the French government are looking for something spectacular and full of panache, and engineer Gustave Eiffel (Romain Duris) takes up the challenge. He does it partly out of love for Adrienne (Emma Mackey), a now married woman with whom he randomly reconnects. The film looks back on the fight fought by “a man with an idea which was bigger than him”, offering up plenty of details, pace and credibility. This is a Parisian odyssey which attests to solid prowess in the field of mise en scène and in the incorporation of special effects, and which is lent even greater energy by Romain Duris an excellent lead actor allowing him to play the protagonist for the full 29-year duration of the story. It is a gamble which has paid off for this popular film which does not hide its objectives, and ultimately keeps its promises.
With thanks to Altitude for this screening.
Director: Martin Bourboulon
Writers: Caroline Bongrand (original screenplay), Thomas Bidegain (adaptation), Natalie Carter (adaptation)
Stars: Romain Duris, Emma Mackey, Pierre Deladonchamps
Running time: 1hr 48 mins
Certificate: 15
EVENT DETAILS
Thu 11 Aug
Doors: 6.45pm
Film: 7.30pm
TICKETS
Adults: £10.00
Under 16’s: £4.50
Doors open 45 minutes before film starts. There will be no trailers, films starts promptly at advertised time.
Accessibility: Hearing Loop? YES Audio Description? NO