Eiffel
Date & Time: Sunday 12th at 3:30pm
Location & Tickets: The Gate Cinema
Details: Martin Bourboulon / France / 2021 / 108 mins
Starring: Romain Duris, Emma Mackey, Pierre Deladonchamps
Synopsis: Eiffel is a handsomely mounted drama of Gustave Eiffel’s quest to build the iconic tower that bears his name. The film shows how Eiffel was an unpopular figure in late 19th century Paris when his plans for the 10,100-tonne iron tower, intended to be a symbol of French industrial savoir-faire for the 1889 Universal Exhibition, were unveiled.
As Eiffel combats negative public opinion and surmounts adverse building conditions with his genius for steelwork, the film gives equal weight to a doomed love affair, set over the course of 20 years, as Gustave and Adrienne (Emma Mackey in her French debut), now married to a prominent journalist, rekindle their youthful flame.
Eiffel isn’t so much a biopic of Gustave Eiffel but a story “freely inspired” by the historical facts. It posits why Eiffel had a sudden change of heart in becoming involved with the metal tower project after initially declining.
The stunning production won César nominations for Costume Design, Production Design and Visual Effects.
