Watch Francofonia

Francofonia is a unique film directed by Russian filmmaker Alexander Sokurov. The movie's central theme revolves around the preservation and acquisition of art and cultural heritage in times of war. Set in Paris, the movie's narrative is structured around two key historical characters: Jacques Jaujard, the French director of the Louvre Museum, and Count Franz von Wolff-Metternich, a German Nazilooted art expert.

The film takes us through the almost unbelievable story of Jaujard's insightful planning about how to save some of the Louvre's most prized artworks ahead of the Nazi occupation of Paris. Meanwhile, in Berlin, Count Wolff-Metternich takes charge of the art looted from Paris and other occupied territories. As the war progresses, both men face new obstacles in their respective roles. They must make bold decisions to ensure the preservation of some of the world's greatest works of art, as well as to secure the cultural heritage of their respective countries.

Francofonia is much more than just a history lesson; it's a philosophical treatise on art, war, and human relations. The movie shows how art has always been an essential aspect of human history and how it unites people and cultures. Sokurov drives this point home by weaving together various real-life historical events to create a broader view of the role of the arts in society. The film's frank discussion of war and cultural conflict, as well as how humans relate to art, is engrossing and thought-provoking.

The movie is a hybrid of a documentary and a feature film, with various elements interwoven to tell a larger story. The movie includes footage from various archives, including photographs of Parisian streets from the 1940s and newsreels with information about the French Resistance. At the same time, there are various segments where the movie veers towards the experimental, with Sokurov using different styles of shots and colours to contrast the beauty of art with the tragedies of war.

Sokurov's direction is unique, and he shoots the movie from the perspective of museum pieces, so we see the action from the art's point of view. This creates a feeling of intense intimacy between the audience and the artwork, making the movie's argument that art endures more poignant. The use of Louis-Do de Lencquesaing's voice as the narrator adds a soft touch to the movie's intense subject matter, and his use of poetic language is striking.

The movie is particularly relevant given the current cultural milieu. It is a reminder to us all to value and preserve art so that future generations might appreciate and understand it. At the same time, the film is a wake-up call to be vigilant about the dangers of political and cultural conflicts.

Francofonia stands out for its innovative storytelling, engaging direction, and its genuine love of art and human culture. It is a timely reminder of the importance of collective memory and of the ways in which shared cultural heritage can bring us together. The movie is profound, informative, and entertaining, ideal for lovers of history, documentaries, and art. Art aficionados and history buffs will particularly enjoy this movie, while casual viewers will be pleasantly surprised by the movie's unique storytelling approach. Francofonia is a movie that challenges us to look at art in new and exciting ways and reminds us of the essential role it plays in human history.

Francofonia is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 71.