La Jetée

 

The 1962 film La Jetée as Frech directors Chris Markers defining film, the monochromatic abstract sci-fi short exists in what must be said a typically French monotony. Evident in its French new wave influence it wears its cold war influence on its sleeve.   

 

Made up of narration and a montage of still images, it has this deep understanding of memory. The narrator from the opening line expresses their understanding of the limitation of memory and its accuracy in exaggeration. The movie, despite its description, is deeply human and the structure of it breathing more than many feature films I've watched. The actual plot reminiscent of later films and in itself now seems to have been ripped of countless time however the original interpretation still seems the gold standard at least in my eyes of the idea of interacting with oneself through time.  

The haunting film still hits today though its nuclear threat no longer exists its human heart still resonates, and I think is a must watch for those who look to understand how the soul of much sci fi narratives exists in the emotion of the characters within it.

Watch full film here:

https://vimeo.com/658254211