Construction Site
Jean-Stéphane Bron / France & Switzerland / 2025 / 94 min
Star architect Renzo Piano's project to renovate a cinema in the heart of Paris becomes a fascinating study in reconciling artistic vision and practical realities.
World-renowned architect Renzo Piano has been tasked with renovating a cinema in the heart of Paris. Over three years, we follow the creative and often demanding process of bringing ideas and realities together. Not least because the director of the venue is a man who, like Piano himself, has strong opinions about small and large details. But Piano, who is also the mind behind the legendary Centre Pompidou, knows that architecture is more than just design.
Director Jean-Stéphane Bron has a keen eye for both the professionalism and humanity involved in the construction of this modern Tower of Babel in the middle of the city. He engages with everyone involved, from the architectural masterminds to the crane operator. A gentle humour is never far away when the mild irony of the enormous project reveals itself in the small details. ‘Construction Site’ is imbued with a genuine love of cinema culture and – being set in Paris – is a must for cinefiles and aesthetes alike.
