Francofonia

Released Apr 1, 2016

1h 27m

Documentary

History

Drama

List

87%

Tomatometer

77 Reviews

47%

Audience Score

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.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Francofonia on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

There's an unlovely self-importance to Sokurov's droning diatribe that rather distracts from the cultural significance of the subject.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 13, 2016

Full Review

David Jenkins

Little White Lies

In praise of art, but also a reminder that we need to treasure what we have.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 11, 2016

Full Review

Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

This is graceful and provocative filmmaking. It works both as art history and as an account of wartime Paris under German occupation.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 10, 2016

Full Review

Carlota Mosegui

Otroscines.com

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]

Rated: 4/5

Aug 16, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

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.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 20, 2022

Full Review

Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

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.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 19, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

6.0/10, my review: http://wp.me/p1eXom-2OB

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Unexpectedly delightful! A bit formulaic at moments, but a great feel good movie!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Reminiscing the Louvre.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

10/18/16 Netflix DVD Interesting concept that was a little hard to get into. Saw previews of this before another movie, The Innocents, and thought it would be worth checking out. The trailer was better than the movie. War, art, culture, politics all at play here. Maybe just too sophisticated art house fare for my taste or understanding.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The Decent One

70%

44%

The Decent One

Korengal

87%

64%

Korengal

#AnneFrank. Parallel Stories

89%

%

#AnneFrank. Parallel Stories

Newtown

94%

69%

Newtown

Decade of Fire

100%

%

Decade of Fire

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Dave Chappelle Specials, Orphan Black, Train to Busan, and More on Netflix and Amazon Prime This Week

On DVD This Week: Kung Fu Panda 3, Eye in the Sky, and More

The Witch and Eye in the Sky are Certified Fresh

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now