About the program
The Alliance Française de Chicago welcomes French director Jean-Marie Montangerand for a screening and discussion of his 2023 documentary Fernand Pouillon: France’s Most Wanted Architect.
On September 8, 1962, French architect, urban planner, building contractor, and writer Fernand Pouillon escaped imprisonment after being incarcerated for a real estate scandal, becoming the “most wanted architect in France.” Montangerand’s award-winning documentary explores Pouillon’s spectacularly dramatic life through current and historic footage of his housing in Paris, Marseille, and Algiers.
“His personality and his antics overshadowed his work. But, his system was to build better, cheaper and faster than others so that everyone could live decently. He thought that beauty should not just be the privilege of the most well-off.” –Montangerand, The Guardian, September 2, 2025
After the program, guests will be welcomed to a reception where they can enjoy a complimentary glass of French wine and have the opportunity to speak with the director.
This program is presented by the Alliance Française de Chicago and Villa Albertine, in partnership with MAS Context.