Francofonia

Francofonia is a 2015 docudrama film written and directed by Alexander Sokurov. It follows the Louvre's Evacuation of [the Louvre collection during World War II|collection evacuation] during the World War II, led by Jacques Jaujard, and how the past and present of the museum is directly connected to this moment.
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2015, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion. It was theatrically released in France on 11 November 2015.

Cast

Louis-Do de Lencquesaing as Jacques Jaujard
as Franz von Wolff-Metternich
Alexander Sokurov as himself
as Napoléon Bonaparte
Johanna Korthals Altes as Marianne

Release

It was screened in the main competition section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival and in the Masters section of the 2015 [Toronto International Film Festival]. The film won the Mimmo Rotella Award at Venice. Variety defined it as a "dense, enriching meditation on the Louvre and specifically the museum’s status during WWII".

Reception

Critical response

Francofonia has an approval rating of 87% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 75 reviews, and an average rating of 6.90/10. The website's critical consensus states, "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". It also has a score of 71 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".