Is Paris burning? our photos from the film exhibition at the Musée de la Libération de Paris

When history is revisited by cinema... The result is Paris brûle-t-il? Quand le cinéma réinvente la Libération, an exhibition organized by the Musée de la Libération de Paris - Musée du Général Leclerc - Musée Jean Moulin, running from March 27 to September 22, 2024, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Paris. The exhibition invites you to discover or rediscover the 1966 film of the same name, directed by René Clément and based on the work of journalists Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, which marked the history of cinema with its narration of the Liberation of Paris.

The film Paris brûle-t-il? was a Franco-American blockbuster starring the likes ofAlain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Yves Montand, Kirk Douglas, Anthony Perkins, Simone Signoret, Bruno Cremer, Claude Rich and Orson Welles. Its release in the 60s sent shockwaves through the world of cinema, positioning it as an essential reference with its 5 million admissions in France. However, this exhibition does more than celebrate the film as a cinematic work. It also explores the boundaries between historical re-enactment and artistic interpretation, a question that remains highly topical (as evidenced by Ridley Scott 's latest Napoleon film).

• To be read
• The Musée de la Libération de Paris, a visit to the heart of the Resistance
• Historical exhibitions in Paris: enthusiasts' events to see now
• Cinema in museums: discover the exhibitions around the 7th art in Paris

Theexhibition at the Musée de la Libération de Paris offers an immersive exploration of the film's emblematic scenes, enabling the public to confront the cinematic vision of the Liberation with actual historical facts. This approach is enriched by the presentation of documents and archives by René Clément, exclusive photographs from the filming, and authentic objects from the museum's collections relating to the Liberation of Paris. The idea is to take visitors behind the scenes of this blockbuster, while shedding light on the political and social context of the mid-1960s.

From the refusal of certain protagonists to be portrayed by a particular actor, to the means used to convey the book's message about the "responsibility" of the Communists in the film without offending the party and Rol-Tanguy in particular... So many interesting anecdotes and analyses of the film, all contextualized in the 60s, just 20 years after the war (the film was released at the end of 1966).

An opportunity for history and cinema buffs to understand how a film can influence the collective perception of a major historical event. It's also a way to better understand the period and the stakes of such a film in the political and social landscape of the time. Want to come along?

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