Is Paris Train Stations: Shaping the City Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2020)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of Paris Train Stations: Shaping the City (2020), audiences are invited back into the world of Documentary, TV Movie. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Every day, Paris’ six railway stations welcome over 3,000 trains and more than a million travelers coming from France and all over Europe. The stations’ sizes are impressive: Gare du Nord is bigger than the Louvre or Notre-Dame de Paris. These railway stations are architectural landmarks and a model of urban planning despite the radical changes they’ve undergone since their construction in the middle of the 19th century. How did the railway stations manage to absorb the boom of travelers in just a few decades? What colossal works were necessary to erect and then modify these now essential buildings? From the monumental glass walls of Gare du Nord to the iconic tower of Gare de Lyon, to the first-ever all-electric train station, each has its own story, technical characteristics, and well-defined urban image."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In Paris Train Stations: Shaping the City, even the presence of Julien Bocher struggles to save a script that feels disjointed. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Documentary. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Paris Train Stations: Shaping the City worth your time? If you appreciate Documentary, TV Movie films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Paris Train Stations: Shaping the City misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 52 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.