Advertisement

Video: New homage to Paris shows the 'real side' of city

Oliver Gee
Oliver Gee - [email protected]
Video: New homage to Paris shows the 'real side' of city
Photo: Max and Léo/Screenshot

In response to an overly sanitized promotional video about Paris called "Paris Je t'aime", local film makers have released their own version, which they say is a more realistic ode to the French capital.

Advertisement

Late last month, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo shared a promotional video in homage to the French capital as part of a marketing campaign to woo visitors.
 
"Paris, je t'aime" (Paris, I love you), she wrote, and the video hits quickly soared to 1.7 million.
 
However some commenters weren't impressed with the content of the video, which focused heavily on tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower (essentially the main character of the video), and includes scenes such as ballet dancers on the roof of the opera house. 
 
"What a joke: the Champs-Elysées is empty, there's room to run around at the Louvre, the opera house looking grand without traffic jams out the front," wrote one Facebook user.
 
"I don't think I live in the same Paris as Madame Hidalgo."
 
Since the clip was published, local film makers Maxime Baudin and Léo Bigiaoui have responded with a video of their own. 
 
In an open letter to Anne Hidalgo they wrote of their disappointment. 
 
"We're a little sad. In two minutes and thirty seconds you give an image of Paris with which only a few Parisians could identify.
 
"Paris is full of surprises, full of energy."
 
Together with their letter was the video below, entitled "Paris we love you too (Paris, on t'aime aussi). 
 
It shows bustling food markets, fishermen, basketball courts, busy restaurants, train stations, skateboarders, and a vibrant nightlife. 
 
The video has almost attracted a million hits on Facebook. 
 
So which do you think paints a more realistic image of Paris?

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also