Notre-Dame – La Part du Feu – French A L.A Carte Blog USA

Inspired by true accounts from French firefighters, this drama series Notre Dame – La Part du Feu explores the impact of the 2019 Notre Dame de Paris fire on a diverse group of Parisians. It follows the tragic story of April 15, 2019, when Notre Dame burst into flames and its impact on different characters across France.

From the U.S., I watched our beloved Notre Dame burst into flames live on France 24 news in disbelief and tears, along with the Parisians and the whole world. It was a surreal sight as we watched helplessly in silence as the fire and smoke engulfed our beloved cathedral. Parisians gathered outside in solidarity in a state of shock, crying and praying. Of course, this series was controversial, and only 58% of Google users liked it, and I don’t blame those who didn’t. Truthfully, I also hesitated to watch it; however, I felt that the cinematography and actors were amazing, and I liked the angle of the simultaneous behind-the-scenes storytelling of regular people at the time of the incident, as well as the firefighters’ efforts to combat the flames and retrieve the treasures of Notre Dame from the fire and do their utmost to protect this irreplaceable French Patrimoine. “I believe in this, this cathedral is universal!” screams one of the firefighters.

This limited 2022 series, created by director Hervé Hadmar, takes place on the night Notre Dame burned and explores its impact. Starring Roschdy Zem, Caroline Proust, and Megan Northam, this realistic series portrays the destiny of men and women who also have their own personal fires to put out. As the Paris firefighters work together to stop the flames from spreading in the Cathedral, the episodes also follow characters being put through the wringer; they will have to fight each other, love each other, come across each other, hate each other, smile at and help each other, so that, in the end, they may have a chance to start all over again.

Today, in 2023, a few years later, Notre Dame is still being restored, and you can follow its progress on the French official website Ministère de la Culture as well as on the construction site of the century dedicated to Notre Dame or Le chantier du siècle.

« Le patrimoine est le témoin d’un génie bâtisseur qui depuis des siècles s’exprime dans notre pays. Le tragique incendie qui a frappé Notre-Dame de Paris nous rappelle cruellement que nous devons chaque jour le protéger, l’entretenir, le restaurer, le valoriser pour le transmettre. » Franck Riester, Ministre de la Culture