Introduction:

Art is not only what we see, but what we choose to leave unseen. Robert Bresson, the legendary French filmmaker, transformed cinema with his radical minimalism, non-professional actors, and a relentless search for truth and grace in the ordinary. His Paris is not the city of spectacle, but of introspection, discipline, and quiet revelation. On this 4-hour journey, guided by storyteller Peter de Kuster, you’ll walk in Bresson’s footsteps—reflecting on your own leadership story through the Hero’s Journey and 12 archetypes. Will you, like Bresson, dare to strip away the superfluous and create your own legend—or not?

Timeline & Journey Stages

Time	Stage & Archetype	Location & Bresson Connection	Reflection & Art/Story Moment
09:00	Ordinary World (Innocent, Everyman)	Parc Monceau (Bresson’s early Paris, painter’s eye)	“Where do you find comfort in routine? What is your ‘ordinary world’—and what beauty do you overlook?”
09:30	Call to Adventure (Explorer, Rebel)	Rue de Rennes (Pickpocket filming location)	“What challenge or unconventional idea is calling you? Where do you feel the urge to rebel against norms?”
10:00	Meeting the Mentor (Sage, Creator)	Musée du Louvre (Bresson’s painterly inspiration, composition)	“Who or what shapes your vision? How does art—minimal or grand—influence your leadership?”
10:40	Crossing the Threshold (Outlaw, Warrior)	Saint-Sulpice & Odéon (sites from Diary of a Country Priest, Au hasard Balthazar)	“What risks must you take to step into authenticity? Which rules or conventions must you break or transcend?”
11:10	Tests & Allies (Hero, Caregiver, Lover)	Canal Saint-Martin (Mouchette and L’Argent echoes, isolation and connection)	“Who are your allies in moments of doubt? Where do you find resilience, and how do you offer it to others?”
11:40	Approach to the Inmost Cave (Shapeshifter, Shadow)	Montparnasse Cemetery (Bresson’s grave, reflection on mortality and legacy)	“What doubts or shadows do you face as a leader? How do you confront the limits of control and certainty?”
12:10	Ordeal & Revelation (Magician, Ruler)	Place de la Concorde (site of A Man Escaped inspiration—freedom and fate)	“What is your greatest leadership test? How can you transform constraint into creative power?”
12:40	Return with the Elixir (Jester, Sage)	Café de Flore (reflection, integration, new story)	“What story will you now tell about your journey? How will you inspire others to see meaning in the minimal?”

Descriptions of the Art & Places

• Parc Monceau: Where Bresson’s painter’s eye was first trained—reminding us that leadership, like art, begins with observation and restraint.
• Rue de Rennes: A key location in Pickpocket, representing the tension between transgression and redemption, and the courage to risk the unconventional.
• Musée du Louvre: Bresson’s early passion for painting shaped his cinematic compositions; pause at minimalist works and consider the power of what is left unsaid.
• Saint-Sulpice & Odéon: Filming sites for Diary of a Country Priest and Au hasard Balthazar, where suffering, grace, and authenticity are explored.
• Canal Saint-Martin: Echoes of Mouchette and L’Argent, places of isolation and fleeting connection—reflect on empathy and the unseen struggles of others.
• Montparnasse Cemetery: Bresson’s final resting place—an invitation to consider legacy, mortality, and the meaning we leave behind.
• Place de la Concorde: Site of inspiration for A Man Escaped, symbolizing the interplay of fate, freedom, and decisive action.
• Café de Flore: A place for reflection and storytelling, where leaders integrate lessons and prepare to return with new resolve.

Conclusion:

Bresson’s Paris teaches us that leadership is not about spectacle, but about the courage to pare down, to seek truth in the essential, and to trust the power of restraint. As you finish this journey, ask yourself: Will you remain a spectator, or become the author of your own legend? Like Bresson, true leadership means seeing the world as it is—and daring to act with clarity, integrity, and vision.

Takeaway Questions for Creative Leaders

• Where are you adding unnecessary noise, and what could you strip away to reveal your true vision?
• Who are your mentors and allies—and how do they shape your courage to create differently?
• What is your “Pickpocket”—the risk or unconventional move you must make to grow?
• How do you transform constraint or adversity into creative breakthroughs?
• What legacy or “elixir” will you bring back to your organization or community?

Practical Details

• Duration: 4 hours
• Price: €590 per person (includes guided walk, reflection workbook, and coffee at a historic Parisian café)
• Group Size: Max 10 leaders for deep dialogue
• Includes: Peter’s “Hero’s Journey & Archetypes” map, Bresson-inspired reflection prompts, and post-journey leadership insights

This is not a sightseeing tour—it’s an invitation to minimalism, meaning, and mastery. Will you, like Bresson, become the storyteller of your own legend?