This week on arts24’s film show, critic Manon Kerjean from Lost in Frenchlation joins us to explore four very different slices of French cinema – from monumental architecture to female bandits, nostalgic comedy and a sweeping national portrait. We begin with “L’Inconnu de la Grande Arche” (The Great Arch), a visually striking portrait of the architect behind Paris’s modern landmark, La Grande Arche de La Défense. Director Demoustier turns stone and steel into emotion, capturing the tension between ambition, politics and legacy, with Danish actor Claes Bang mastering French for the role.

Next, “Le Gang des Amazones” brings a burst of rebellious energy. Inspired by a true story, Mélissa Drigeard’s 1990s-set crime caper follows five women who fooled France by pulling off seven daring bank robberies. Equal parts feminist statement and buddy comedy, it’s fast, funny and fiercely original.

On a lighter note, “T’as pas changé” (“You Haven’t Changed”) reunites Laurent Lafitte, Vanessa Paradis and François Damiens in a bittersweet comedy about old friends facing the passage of time. Full of nostalgia – and a few chilly swimming pool scenes – it’s a gentle crowd-pleaser with a stellar 1990s soundtrack.

Finally, Yann Arthus-Bertrand returns with “France, une histoire d’amour” (“France, a Love Story”), a heartfelt documentary capturing the faces and voices of ordinary people across the country. Shot entirely on an iPhone, it’s both humble and ambitious – a visual love letter to the French people, though not without its contemplative detours.

Watch arts24’s weekly film show for all the highlights, insights and cinematic surprises shaping the French film scene right now.