A beautiful house for selected films : Paris Cinémathèque

Since September 2005, French Film Library has moved in the building created by Frank O.Gehry in 1993 for the Paris American Center.

Frank Gehry used to call it “the ballerina pulling up her tutu”.

It’s located rue de Bercy, next to the former Paris wine market, which for one part is now a shopping center set up in the ancient streets and brick houses, and for another a beautiful park. It’s doors open on a lawn that stretches to the Seine embankment.

And if you prefer books to films, National Library is just across the river, related by Simone de Beauvoir footbridge. Film Library also houses a bookshop and a library dedicated to film. You can visit it’s permanent collection and usually very interesting temporary exhibitions. Finishing February 18, a great monography of Sacha Guitry, including posters, paintings, sound recordings and film excerpts.

And of course, you can also watch films, now running a tribute to Jeanne Moreau (up to March 3) and a retrospective on African Cinematography (up to March 2)

Inside setting matches perfectly with the outside style.

If you’re interested in the building, every first Sunday of a month at 11 AM, you can join an architectural visit. ( 8 euros)

La Cinémathèque Française, 51 rue de Bercy 15012 Paris tel 33(0)1 71 19 33 33. Metro Bercy. Exhibition Sacha Guitry “une vie d’artiste” up to February 18, Monday to Saturday 12 to 19, up to 22 on Thursdays, Sunday 10 to 19. Entrance 8 euros.

For more information and program, go to : http://www.cinematheque.fr/