The Great Arch
November 5, 2025
Overview
France, 1983. The biggest architectural competition in history is launched by the new socialist president, François Mitterrand. Coveted by all the biggest international architectural firms, the open-call competition is surprisingly won by an unknown: Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, an architecture...More
France, 1983. The biggest architectural competition in history is launched by the new socialist president, François Mitterrand. Coveted by all the biggest international architectural firms, the open-call competition is surprisingly won by an unknown: Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, an architecture teacher from Copenhagen. Until then, the fifty-year-old Dane had built only four buildings: his home, and three small chapels.
Cast and crew
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Stéphane Demoustier
Director
Claes Bang
Johan Otto von Spreckelsen
Xavier Dolan
Jean-Louis Subilon
Swann Arlaud
Paul Andreu
Sidse Babett Knudsen
Liv von Spreckelsen
MF
Michel Fau
François Mitterrand
Jean des Forêts
Alain Juppé
Micha Lescot
Leloup
Alessandro Bressanello
Marble man
IC
Ilaria Cabras
Marble man's daughter
Viilbjørk Malling Agger
Architect student
Cédric Appietto
Tavelli
OM
Olivier Marguerit
Dewasne
Patrick Sobelman
Saint-Germain
GF
Guillaume Foresti
Forestier
Raphaël Jimenez
Alain Juppé's counselor
PG
Pierre-François Grunewald
François Mitterrand's counselor
François Raison
L'huissier Elysée
Axelle Bossard
Secrétaire Subilon
JHC
Jiang Hong Chen
Pei
CD
Cécile Ducrocq
Femme invitée
OG
Olivier Galliano
Ouvrier
Benjamin Cléry
Gardien Elysée
JL
Jérôme Lanvin
Political advisor
Jean-Yves Freyburger
Passant parvis La Défense (uncredited)
TG
Thomas Garcia
Collaborateur François Mitterrand (uncredited)
OHR
Olivia Hahn Reichstein
Etudiante architecture (uncredited)
Stéphane Soubiran
Le Serveur du restaurant (uncredited)