Want to explore the city from a different perspective than a simple stroll on Google Street View? Luckily, cinema comes to our rescue by showing us the capital of Gaul in a new light. Here are some cinematic gems that place Lyon at the heart of their plot.
19th century
- 1895
- Light Brothers
Factory exit
The French film entitled “La Sortie de l'usine Lumière à Lyon” was made by Louis Lumière and came out in 1895. There are at least three versions of this film, one of which was selected among the ten productions shown at the Salon indien of the Grand Café de Paris from December 28, 1895.
- 1897
- Light Brothers
Snowball Fight
Snowball Fight is a short French black and white film directed by Louis Lumière, released in 1897. Around twenty people are having a snowball fight in a street in Lyon. As a bicycle approaches, the different groups of people concentrate their snowball throwing.
20th century
- 1969
- Jean-Pierre Melville
Army of Shadows
Widely acclaimed as the most remarkable film about the French Resistance ever made, "Army of Shadows" was filmed in Paris and Lyon. Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, the film aimed to present an uncompromising account of the Resistance, departing from the national historical narrative. The story follows Gerbier, played by Lino Ventura, who takes refuge in Lyon after fleeing Paris. Within his Resistance network, several members are apprehended. In Vieux-Lyon, at the Café du Soleil on Place de la Trinité, Mathilde (played by Simone Signoret) searches for a plan to help them escape from the Gestapo headquarters, located at the Military Health School, where some scenes were also filmed.
- 1974
- Bertrand Tavernier
The Clockmaker of Saint Paul
In this 1974 drama film, directed by Bertrand Tavernier, a detective story serves as the backdrop for a remarkable immersion in the streets of Lyon, alongside actors Philippe Noiret and Jean Rochefort. Originally from Lyon, the director sublimates his hometown by guiding us through its damp streets, secret passages, and famous traboules. Lyon's culinary tradition also takes center stage, with numerous meal scenes highlighting iconic dishes such as cervelles de canuts, aprons de sapeurs, and beef salads. A true visual treat!
- 1997
- Claude Berri
Lucie Aubrac
In Lyon, in March 1943, Raymond Samuel (known as Aubrac in the Resistance) and his wife Lucie were active in the Resistance. On June 21, Raymond was captured, as was Jean Moulin. Consumed by an intense love, Lucie was determined to do everything in her power, to use every means possible, to free her husband from the clutches of the Gestapo. She became involved in actions blending romance and violence, seemingly straight out of the imagination of the most inventive of writers. Yet, the film is based on the true story of Lucie Aubrac.
- 1999
- Bernard Rapp
A matter of taste
The film's plot is told to the viewer through flashbacks: the present focuses on a police investigation into Frédéric's murder, as well as the psychological questions raised by the doctors treating Nicolas after his act. Landmarks of Lyon appear in the film.
- The funicular linking Saint-Jean to Fourvière.
- The Part-Dieu tower.
- The banks of the Rhone
21st century
- 2007
- Jacques Maillot
Blood Ties
Set in Lyon in the late 1970s, François, a police inspector, is confronted with the release of his brother, Gabriel, recently freed from prison after serving a ten-year sentence for murder. The reunion between the policeman and his older brother is fraught with difficulty, but both men share a desire to leave their tumultuous past behind them. Gabriel yearns for redemption, while François is fully committed to helping him on this journey.
- 2007
- Jacques Maillot
Emotional Anonymous
In 2010, Benoît Poelvoorde and Isabelle Carré are the main actors of this sweet and moving film. Part of the decor, almost timeless, is located in Lyon. The Gare Saint-Paul is represented, the city having hosted the shooting for two weeks. The spectators also appreciate the film for its magnificent sequences shot in a chocolate factory, offering a real visual feast.
- 2011
- Olivier Marchal
The Lyonnais
Having grown up in poverty in a Roma camp, Edmond Vidal, known as Momon, preserved his family values, unwavering loyalty, and pride in his roots. Above all, he maintained a strong friendship with Serge Suttel, his childhood friend with whom he shared a prison sentence for a foolish cherry theft. With Serge, he gradually became involved in organized crime, reaching the top with the Gang des Lyonnais, the crew they formed that propelled them to the ranks of the most notorious bank robbers of the early 1970s.
- 2013
- Diane Kurys
For a woman
In the early 1980s, Anne and Tania faced the death of their mother. Immersing herself in the writings, photos, and memories left behind, Anne, a writer, embarked on a journey to discover and reconstruct her parents' early married years. The film was shot during the summer of 2012 in and around Lyon, notably at the Auberge du Faisan Doré in Villefranche-sur-Saône, a riverside restaurant, as well as in Virieu and Fareins, among other locations. Street scenes were filmed in Place Sathonay, particularly on Rue Sary and Rue Poivre in Lyon.
- 2018
- Nicolas Pariser
Alice and the Mayor
The mayor of Lyon, Paul Théraneau, is going through a difficult period. After three decades in politics, he feels completely drained of ideas. To address this, a decision is made: to bring on board a brilliant young philosopher, Alice Heimann. This collaboration sparks a dialogue that shakes their convictions and draws them closer. The film takes place in various iconic locations such as the Parc de la Tête d'Or and the opera house. However, according to production manager Sébastien Autret, the crew was denied access to City Hall, citing renovations and the planned visit of the Crown Prince of Japan, as reported in a weekly magazine.
This list is by no means exhaustive. There are, of course, other films that have chosen Lyon as a filming location, as the city offers varied and attractive settings for the film industry.
