Eiffel

Paris in 1889 is buzzing as the city prepares for a world fair that will redefine the skyline. Gustave Eiffel, a pragmatic engineer, is pressed to deliver something dazzling for the event, yet his real dream leans toward a practical transit route under the city and its growing crowds. When a chance encounter reconnects him with a mysterious woman from his past, his plans and priorities begin to shift. Adrienne Bourgès, a resourceful and intense figure, complicates his focus and invites him to see how love and ambition can collide. Set against towering steel and lantern lit late nights, the film juggles quiet romance with grand ambition as two generations brush against each other.

Directed by Martin Bourboulon, Eiffel arrives in 2021 with an original screenplay that spotlights Gustave Eiffel at the height of his fame. Romain Duris plays the engineer, while Emma Mackey portrays Adrienne Bourgès, his magnetic counterpart.

Budgeted at about 26 million, the film drew around 13 million in worldwide box office, reflecting a solid European release but a modest commercial footprint compared with big scale dramas.

On screen Eiffel adds a glossy lens to a moment of Paris history, giving audiences a visual feast of late 19th century fashion, public space, and industrial bravery. While not declaring itself as a landmark in cultural shifts, it invites conversations about the people behind iconic structures and the way memory shapes our view of monuments long after their creation.

Critics offered a mixed take, citing strong production design and solid performances as the film's backbone while noting a conventional rhythm at times. Themes pulse around ambition versus affection, the cost of public projects, and how a private story can illuminate a public monument. The Paris setting and the World Fair backdrop give the romance a frame that feels both intimate and epic, inviting viewers to ponder what we sacrifice for progress.