A new French-Danish film about architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen has sparked sharp criticism from his own son, who says the movie distorts both his father’s character and the family’s story.
A Controversial Portrait
The film *The New Triumphal Arch* premieres in Danish movie theaters on Christmas Day. It follows the life of Danish architect Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, who in 1983 won a competition organized by French President François Mitterrand to design a new monument in western Paris. The project became the now-iconic La Grande Arche in La Défense.
Actor Claes Bang plays Spreckelsen, while Sidse Babett Knudsen portrays his wife. The film is based on a French novel by Laurence Cossé and mixes real historical events from the 1980s with fictionalized scenes. A disclaimer at the beginning explains that it is inspired by true events, not a direct retelling.
Although critics in France, including *Le Monde*, have praised the movie, it has caused discomfort in Denmark. Spreckelsen’s son, television producer Filip von Spreckelsen, said the film paints a false image of his father and family. He worries that viewers will take fictional moments as truth. According to him, the film transforms his father into a detached, temperamental man who mistreats his wife, a depiction he finds deeply unfair.
Zentropa Responds to the Criticism
The film was co-produced by Danish studio Zentropa and directed by French filmmaker Stéphane Demoustier. Zentropa says the disputed scenes were never intended as abuse but as moments showing a man under professional pressure and personal strain. The company insists it aimed to portray a complex individual facing intense expectations.
Marie Gade, who co-produced the project for Zentropa, explained that film crews reached out to Spreckelsen’s family during production. Some of their suggestions were even incorporated, she said, but the film ultimately remains a creative work, not a biography. She added that the movie seeks to pay tribute to Spreckelsen’s architectural vision rather than diminish it.
Still, the family stands firm. Filip von Spreckelsen emphasizes that while he believes in artistic freedom, the film’s portrayal strays too far from reality to accept.
The Real Man Behind the Arch
Johan Otto von Spreckelsen designed La Grande Arche, completed in 1989 as the symbolic completion of the historic Parisian axis linking the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe. The structure, 111 meters tall, was meant to represent humanity rather than victory. Spreckelsen had hoped to name it “The Arch of Humanity,” but after his death in 1987, French officials chose “La Grande Arche.”
The architect never saw his grand vision finished. He died at 57, shortly before the inauguration. His design remains one of the most notable Danish contributions to French public architecture.
Critics Support the Family
Danish documentarian and author Dan Tchernia, who produced a 1989 documentary about Spreckelsen, also condemns the new film. He argues that it distorts historical facts and misrepresents a man he describes as brilliant and humble. In his view, the project reflects what he sees as lingering discomfort in France that a foreigner designed one of its most visible monuments.
Tchernia believes the fictional elements go far beyond creative interpretation and disrespect both the architect’s artistic legacy and Danish cultural pride. For him, this is less a tribute and more a “French mockery of a great Danish artist.”
The Line Between Art and Accuracy
The debate raises a recurring question in film: how far can artistic freedom go when it draws on real people’s lives? For the filmmakers, creativity stands above strict fact. For Spreckelsen’s family, truth and memory take precedence.
Regardless of interpretation, the controversy has brought renewed attention to the life and work of one of Denmark’s most respected architects. Nearly forty years after he won the competition, Johan Otto von Spreckelsen continues to shape not only the Paris skyline but also conversations about how art portrays history.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Johan Otto von Spreckelsen – Danish Architect
The Danish Dream: Best Cinemas in Denmark for Foreigners
DR: ’Sådan var min far ikke’: Ny film om dansk arkitekt får hård kritik af hans egen søn
