- December 3, 2025
- All things Paris
- Nellie Dougherty
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Paris: the enduring star of the cultural stage.
How many other cities can claim to have been the inspiration for great painters like Monet or Picasso, the birthplace of literary epics like Les Miserables, and the backdrop for iconic films like Amelie, Moulin Rouge, and even Ratatouille!?
Between the cobblestone streets of the bohemian Montmartre to the artsy hub of the Belle Époque, Paris seems to house an endless capacity for creative invention. What’s more, alongside its long list of artistic accolades, Paris is also the most visited city in Europe, the leading shopping destination, and one of the most photographed cities in the world.
But what is it about the City of Lights that so captures the world’s imagination?
Paris in Film
Perhaps most central to Paris’ charm is its portrayal on screen, where it has been immortalised through many timeless classics.
Despite the wide variety of films set in Paris, many seem to return to the same themes : Romance, Artistry, and Nostalgia, with the final theme perhaps most central to the world’s fascination with the city. Think of the whimsical, almost dream-like scenes of Amélie, or in Moulin Rouge!, where the Belle Époque is lavishly explored as a bygone golden era.
Paris on film often evokes the sense that the city belongs equally to memory and imagination. Even Ratatouille into nostalgia with its cosy bistros and glowing rooftops, where the simple joy of cooking is painted upon the canvas of an idealised Paris. Ultimately, Paris’ presentation in film has consolidated its place in popular culture as a place where reality and imagination intertwine in collective memory, leaving audiences with a romanticised vision of the city which is as much felt as it is seen.
Paris in Literature
Alongside film, Paris’ literary legacy shapes its mystique. The “Lost Generation” - Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Stein, etc - shaped a view of Paris as something of a haven for expatriate artists seeking creative freedom and inspiration.
Fitzgerald wrote of a glitteringly glamorous Paris, complete with endless parties, cocktails, and excess. Hugo’s Les Misérables transformed Paris into an epic stage for revolution and moral conflict. The book’s resounding success and development into a musical has certainly shaped the image of Paris that circulates in popular culture today - not just a setting, but a character in its own right, dramatic, tragic and romantic in equal measures.
In A Moveable Feast, Hemingway similarly personifies Paris : “Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it.”
This reflection seems to encapsulate the manner in which literature has coloured Paris’ portrayal in popular culture: a place of possibility which interacts with its inhabitants almost like a living being, leaving its mark upon their stories.
Paris in Theatre and Performance
Just as Paris has left its mark on film and literature, the city’s theatrical tradition continues to shape its cultural identity today. Performance has long been woven into Parisian life. Often thought of as France’s national playwright, Molière built his career in the heart of Paris, crafting comedies that exposed the pretensions and hypocrisies of 17th-century society with a sharpness that still resonates today.
Through Molière’s enduring characters—the schemers, misers, hypochondriacs, and social climbers—popular culture continues to associate Paris with wit, elegance, irony, and a flair for theatricality.
His legacy lives on most prominently at the La Comédie Française, the oldest active theatre company in the world, which still plays French classics The Misanthrope, and Scapin the Schemer.
Similarly, modern comedy productions such as Oh My God She’s Parisian and How to Become a Parisian in One Hour continue to capture all the quirks of modern Parisian life. For English-speaking visitors, Theatre in Paris makes this world fully accessible, offering a unique opportunity to experience the city’s living culture not as a spectator of history, but as a participant in its ongoing story.
If you would like to experience some of these enduring classics or modern gems as an English speaker in Paris, why not check out some of these shows?
- Molière's The Miser at Théâtre le Ranelagh - An ever popular piece about passion, penny-pinching, and family matters, by France's favourite playwright, Molière.
Click here to get your tickets! - Scapin the Schemer at La Comédie-Française -This gem of the French repertoire, first performed in 1671, showcases Molière’s mastery of farce and sharp social commentary.
Click here to get your tickets! - Oh My God She’s Parisian - Frenzied, chaotic, and glamorous: The hilariously honest life of a woman in Paris - the city's one-woman show, 100% in English.
Click here to get your tickets! - How to Become a Parisian in One Hour - The best French lesson you've ever had: a playfully honest show to leave you feeling Parisian for better... or worse?
Click here to get your tickets!
Final thoughts
Paris remains timeless because it is a city where film, literature, art, and performance continually shape and reshape its identity. Paris’ stories are endlessly retold, yet always feel new—from the whimsical Paris of Amélieto the revolutionary streets of Les Misérables, from Monet’s soft light to Molière’s sharp wit. For visitors, the best way to feel this living culture is to experience it directly.
Lucky for you, with Theatre in Paris the city’s creative spirit is only a curtain-rise away.
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