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Francofonia

Play trailer Poster for Francofonia 2016 1h 27m Documentary History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 77 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In 1940, museum director Jacques Jaujard (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing) and German officer Count Franz Wolff-Metternich (Benjamin Utzerath) work together to protect Louvre artworks from the Nazis.

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Francofonia

Francofonia

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Critics Consensus

Francofonia may test the patience of the uninitiated, but viewers willing to delve into a beautifully filmed look at the intersection of art and war will be richly rewarded.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Observer (UK) 11/13/2016
2/5
There's an unlovely self-importance to Sokurov's droning diatribe that rather distracts from the cultural significance of the subject. Go to Full Review David Jenkins Little White Lies 11/11/2016
4/5
In praise of art, but also a reminder that we need to treasure what we have. Go to Full Review Geoffrey Macnab Independent (UK) 11/10/2016
4/5
This is graceful and provocative filmmaking. It works both as art history and as an account of wartime Paris under German occupation. Go to Full Review Carlota Mosegui Otroscines.com 08/16/2023
4/5
The filmmaker reveals the hypocritical mentality of the Nazis who safeguarded the Louvre while they bombed and destroyed hundreds of European cities. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/20/2022
4.5/5
Categorizing it is nearly impossible, but breaking it down is a rewarding challenge. I think the film could best be called Sokurov’s canvass, and on it he presents a collage of thought, reason, and reflection. Go to Full Review Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel 02/19/2020
3/5
Francofonia is less of a swooning and immersive cinematic experience than a free-range, multi-media essay about the survival of art and culture in an inherently destructive world. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Julian Rex M @Julian_M 04/13/2025 Lacking the emotional resonance of Sokurov's other museum romp while doubling down on the technical prowess, Francofonia is a passionately delivered love letter to the purity and value of European art that is only occasionally hindered by a thinly written, even painfully unfocused narrative. See more 07/06/2017 Loved the shots of and inspired by the Louvre. Less engaged by the WWII scenes, though the true story itself was interesting. Left completely cold by the Marianne/Napoleon stuff, and the directorial voiceover us a pretentious irritant. See more 02/09/2017 6.0/10, my review: http://wp.me/p1eXom-2OB See more 01/14/2017 Unexpectedly delightful! A bit formulaic at moments, but a great feel good movie! See more 12/04/2016 Reminiscing the Louvre. See more 10/27/2016 A strange mix of avant garde documentary/docu-drama that seems to exist mostly because Sokurov got the same access to the Louvre that he got to the Hermitage for Russian Ark, but didn't actually have anything to say. If you haven't followed the relevant period of history closely, there's a couple of interesting facts that crop up towards the end that infuriatingly aren't followed up. See more Read all reviews
Francofonia

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Cast & Crew

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Aleksandr Sokurov

Director

Louis-Do de Lencquesaing

Jacques Jaujard

Benjamin Utzerath

Franz Wolff-Metternich

Vincent Nemeth

Napoléon Bonaparte

Johanna Korthals Altes

Marianne

Andrey Chelpanov

Actor

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Francofonia

Francofonia (2015) Francofonia (2015) Francofonia (2015) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1940, museum director Jacques Jaujard (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing) and German officer Count Franz Wolff-Metternich (Benjamin Utzerath) work together to protect Louvre artworks from the Nazis.
Director
Aleksandr Sokurov
Producer
Pierre-Olivier Bardet, Thomas Kufus, Els Vandevorst
Screenwriter
Aleksandr Sokurov
Distributor
Music Box Films
Production Co
Idéale Audience, Arte France
Genre
Documentary, History, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 1, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 28, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$290.1K
Runtime
1h 27m