Eminently cool. Thanks to a recommendation from a Photrio member, I just read Reese Jenkins' book Images & Enterprise. Reading it, you realise that the photochemical industries had gone global before the 20th century. Eastman was sourcing materials from Europe and his manufacturing and retail operations had a foothold worldwide by 1912. It only makes sense that the Lumiéres might expand into the US for similar reasons. The language angle is interesting, too--it reminds me of Ubisoft's expansion of its game-design studios into Montréal early in this century.
Edit: It occurs to me that a trip there would be a serious optical learning venture. Imagining the film factory while framing up through the bottom of a beer glass.