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PARIS, 1919 focuses on six months that changed the world. The last shots had been fired in the most devastating war of all time. Almost 10 million were dead. Delegations from over 30 nations urgently descended upon Paris for the most ambitious peace talks in history. At the helm were the big four: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson; French Prime Minister George Clemenceau; British Prime Minister David Lloyd George; and Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando.

 

Driven by unprecedented urgency, the French capital became the destination of emirs and presidents, newsmen and royalty, ambitious socialites, and arms dealers. Bringing events into sharp focus are ancillary participants and observers: John Maynard Keynes (who later criticized the Peace Conference for imposing impossibly harsh economic terms of the Germans); Harold Nicolson; Lawrence of Arabia; Chaim Weizmann; and Ho Chi Minh.  The most famous treaty to come out of the Peace Conference was the “Treaty of Versailles.” It officially brought the war with Germany to an end, and established the terms of peace. In a finely crafted dramatic re-enactment by brilliantly costumed actors in stunning authentic locations, director Paul Cowan blends these performances with authentic black and white archival footage to create an awesome piece of work. Inspired by Margaret MacMillan’s landmark book—which was hailed by The New York Times as a “blueprint of the political and social upheavals bedeviling the planet now”—PARIS, 1919 deftly highlights how the specter of those past events still haunts the present offering a compelling and disquieting reflection  on history and its great missed opportunities.

 

The work, inspired by MacMillan’s book, was produced by Gerry Flahive (who, in over 25 years at the NFB, has produced more than 40 films) and Paul Saadoun, (whose productions have been awarded more than 100 major awards world-wide), and was written, directed and photographed by Paul Cowan (who has a distinguished 30-year career, much of it at the NFB).