Never-before-seen footage to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Paris.
/INA is excited to present newly uncovered footage of the Liberation of Paris, filmed in the heart of the city during the final hours of the Occupation as news of the Liberation spread. The film offers an up-close view of General Leclerc’s armored division entering the capital, a jubilant crowd celebrating the return of peace, and spontaneous scenes of joy captured from the terrace of the Café de la Paix.
The story behind this new collection of archives is deeply moving: during the lockdown, Maxime Lesur discovered film reels from 1944 in his attic, which he had found while clearing out his father's house and had never looked at until then. He found the stunning footage shot by his grandfather during the Liberation and decided to share it with INA, hoping it would help illuminate this pivotal moment in history.