France TV Distribution has added the documentary “Building Paris” (“Construire Paris”) to its lineup and will premiere it at Sunny Side of the Doc, June 22-24, which brings together France’s international documentary community.
This document focuses on 19th century Paris and the rapid changes it underwent after Emperor Napoleon III and the Barons Haussmann began modernizing the city. The filmmakers had exclusive access to famous buildings such as Haussmann’s Opera House and hidden locations beneath the city, combined with impressive VFX.
“Building Paris depicts the transformation of Paris on three levels: the visible city with its elegant buildings and boulevards, the endless sea of zinc roofs and the normally off-limits Opera Garnier. “Paris from above, with spectacular viewing platforms such as the roof of the theater, and finally the hidden city beneath the streets,” said director Guy Padovani (Chauvet’s First Masterpiece, Denisova Unveiled).
“The film also reveals how Paris influenced cities and capitals in Europe, South America and, more recently, China. One notable example is the district of Hangzhou, which recreates an entire Haussmann quarter, complete with the Eiffel Tower,” Padovani continued.
This two-part, 45-minute episodic documentary series was “commissioned for France Télévision’s flagship prime-time science program ‘Science Grand Format.'” It is also part of the Global Doc initiative, an alliance of major international broadcasters. The project follows the success of “Eiffel Tower: Building the Impossible.” Distributed by France TV Distribution, the film has been sold to more than 35 countries around the world,” producer Patrice Geret told Variety.
“Following the worldwide success of the film about Eiffel, we are confident that this offer will be attractive to foreign partners, who will discover in a completely unprecedented way both medieval Paris and the rebuilt Paris, along with the history of this emblematic city that has influenced major capitals around the world,” said Julia Schulte, Senior Vice President of International Sales at France TV Distribution.
“Building Paris” is produced by Gelle and Catherine Alvaresse (KM – Banijay, France) and distributed worldwide by France TV Distribution.
opera house. Build Paris. ©KM
Variety had the opportunity to speak with producer Jere and director Padovani about the documentary.
Can you tell us a little about Haussmann’s work and his contribution to turning Paris into the city it is today?
Patrice Geret: How can we transform a medieval city into a modern metropolis, a city of lights? That was the starting point for our documentary. Before Haussmann’s work began in 1853, Paris was a dangerous and unsanitary medieval city, plagued by open sewers, poor living conditions, and cholera outbreaks. The city was far behind modern capitals such as London. Our film reveals that the iconic Paris we know today was primarily inspired by London. During his exile, the future Emperor Napoleon III discovered highly organized urban planning, innovative sewage systems, and extensive public parks like Hyde Park. These innovations shaped his bold vision to reimagine Paris as a modern, sustainable capital.
Guy Padovani: Emperor Napoleon III and Baron Haussmann achieved what many thought was impossible. They fundamentally transformed Paris into one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. The masterpiece of the Second Empire is undoubtedly the Opéra Garnier. At the time, it boasted one of the most spectacular facades in Paris, decorated with sculptures, marble columns, and gilded ornaments. We were granted exclusive access to photograph its magnificent facade during its restoration. We were also able to photograph one of the most secret and fascinating locations, the underground lake of the Opéra Garnier, next to the Paris fire brigade, which conducts underwater rescue training there every year. The reservoir was built to stabilize the monument, which sits on a wetland.
What VFX techniques did you use?
Padovani: We wanted to create premium visual effects that would immerse the audience in the incredible rebirth of Paris. To achieve this, I imagined a family and a young maid living in a newly built Haussmannian apartment building and witnessing the changes in the city from their doorstep. We follow them throughout the story through highly realistic facial animation and character performances, combined with a visual style inspired by 19th century paintings. These CGI sequences are designed to convey the emotion, power, and massive scale of transformation.
Gerre: Our ambition was to recapture the magic of old Paris and the huge transformations led by Napoleon III and Haussmann, with premium production values both in cinematography and visual effects. Nearly a third of the film’s budget was spent on VFX, allowing it to create an immersive journey through Paris’ most spectacular monuments.
Buildings in Paris ©Paris Musées -Musée Carnavalet
Have you discovered any interesting historical information that distinguishes Paris from other major cities?
Gerre: What makes Paris different from cities like London, New York, and Rome is that its modernization spanned more than 40 years. Imagine spending most of your life busy with construction work day and night. That’s what makes this transformation special. Napoleon III and Haussmann faced criticism and opposition throughout the project, including the destruction of historic streets and buildings, the expropriation of thousands of residents, and the rise of real estate speculation.
Padovani: 60% of the city has changed. Approximately 20,000 buildings were demolished and 30,000 were constructed. More than 64 kilometers of new roads and wide boulevards were built and 80,000 trees were planted. In that sense, the transformation of Paris under Napoleon III and Haussmann remains one of the most fascinating urban projects of the 19th century.
