Francofonia at Real Art Ways

FRANCOFONIA, directed by master Russian filmmaker Alexander Sokurov (RUSSIAN ARK), is an urgent meditation on the essential relationship between art, culture, and 20th century European history, set in occupied Paris circa 1940.

Applying his uniquely personal vision, Sokurov paints a fascinating portrait of two real-life characters: the Louvre’s wartime director, Jacques Jaujard, and Count Franziskus Wolff-Metternich, the Nazis’ emissary to the great museum.

The movie is a battle of wits between these remarkable art professionals – enemies, then collaborators – whose unlikely alliance becomes the driving force behind the preservation of one of the world’s great artistic treasure troves.

A playful subplot introduces the ghosts of Napoleon and Marianne, France’s symbol of liberté, égalité, fraternité.