1982.FrenchPresidentFrançoisMitterranddecidestolaunchaninternationalarchitecturalcompetitionfortheflagshipprojectofhismandate:theGreatArchofLaDéfense,alignedwiththeLouvreandtheArcdeTriomphe.Againstallodds,OttovonSpreckelsen,aDanisharchitect,winsthecompetition.Overnight,this53-year-oldman,unknowninFrance,arrivesinPariswhereheispropelledatthehelmofthispharaonicproject.WhilethearchitectintendstobuildtheGreatArchexactlyasheenvisioned,hisideasquicklyclashwithrealisticconstraintsandthevicissitudesofpolitics.