When fiction meets reality, attentive viewers leave no stone unturned. In 2019, the Canadian TV movie “Un Noël à Paris” tried to capture the magic of the festive season in the French capital…By setting its camera in another city!
Shot largely in Lyon in the wake of the dramatic Notre-Dame fire, the film pretends to be set in Paris, but sharp-eyed Parisians will quickly see a few inconsistencies.
The scenario is worthy of a seasonal classic: Lucas, a French entrepreneur, meets Robin in the United States and decides to give her a magical Christmas in France, in the City of Light. But behind the facades that are supposed to evoke Parisian streets, we soon recognize other settings: the banks of the Rhône replace those of the Seine, the Saint-Jean cathedral in Vieux Lyon masquerades as Notre-Dame de Paris, and even the Parc de la Tête d’Or is transformed into a Parisian garden.
A cinematic trompe-l’œil born of unforeseen circumstances: at the time of shooting, the real Notre-Dame cathedral had just been ravaged by fire, forcing the crew to revise their plans.
Despite these minor geographical liberties, “Un Noël à Paris” retains all the charm of a holiday film, with its share of tinsel-wrapped romances and close-up declarations of love. A touching nod to Paris, even filmed from the capital of Gaul.
And if you prefer to experience the magic of the holidays without the tricks, let yourself be enchanted by this concert featuring the most beautiful Christmas movie soundtracks glow in the light of thousands of candles set in the Eiffel Tower.