The Great Arch

The Great Arch

Directed by Stéphane Demoustier

Produced by Agat Films & Cie / Ex Nihilo, France 3 Cinéma

2025104 min6.9 / 10

A historical drama about an unlikely triumph of vision and integrity, following an obscure Danish architect's unexpected victory in France's most prestigious architectural competition.

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.

Questions people ask

  • Is The Great Arch violent? Barely. Less violent than 86% of films.

  • Does The Great Arch end with hope? Yes. More hopeful than 81% of films.

  • Is The Great Arch easy watching? Somewhat. More comforting than 71% of films.

  • Is The Great Arch sad? Not especially. Less sad than 59% of films.

  • Is The Great Arch scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 58% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

52/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity67

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise28

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love65

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like The Great Arch

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as The Great Arch

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like The Great Arch, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like The Great Arch, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like The Great Arch, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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