La Jetée (1962)

La Jetée is a landmark 1962 French science fiction short film written and directed by Chris Marker. Composed almost entirely of still photographs, the film is a haunting meditation on time, memory, and loss. Though only about 28 minutes long, it has had an immense impact on science fiction cinema, influencing everything from 12 Monkeys to Inception.

Detailed Summary

Post-Apocalyptic Paris and the Experiment

Set in a post-World War III Paris, the Earth’s surface has been rendered uninhabitable. Survivors now live underground beneath the Palais de Chaillot. Scientists, desperate to find a solution for humanity’s survival, begin experimenting with time travel. They seek volunteers who can mentally withstand the trauma of traveling through time.

The unnamed protagonist, referred to as “The Man”, is chosen due to a vivid memory he has of a woman and a death he witnessed as a child at Orly Airport—a memory so emotionally powerful that scientists believe it can anchor him in the past.

The Woman and the Past

The man is successfully sent back in time to the pre-war period, where he reconnects with the mysterious woman from his childhood memory. They form a gentle and romantic bond, wandering through quiet, ordinary moments: a museum, a park, quiet conversations in sun-drenched rooms. These sequences, made poignant through narration and black-and-white stills, emphasize the fragility and sweetness of fleeting time.

But as the experiments continue, his visits to the past become shorter, more disjointed. The connection begins to unravel as the scientists shift focus: they now intend to send him to the future, hoping that descendants of mankind might offer aid to save the present.

The Journey to the Future

The man is sent far ahead in time, where he encounters highly evolved beings. These future humans agree to help, offering advanced technology that can restore the present world. After fulfilling his mission, he expects peace or release.

But instead, the scientists have no further use for him. They intend to “dispose” of him, like the other test subjects who outlived their usefulness.

Movie Ending

Facing certain death in the present, the man calls upon the future beings one last time. They offer him the chance to live among them, but he declines. He wants only to return to the past, to see the woman again—one final moment of beauty before oblivion.

He is transported to the pre-war airport—the very moment from his childhood memory. There, he sees the woman waiting. As he moves toward her, he is suddenly shot by an agent of the present, sent to eliminate him. As he dies, he realizes the tragic irony: the man he saw die as a child—the moment that anchored his memory—was himself. The loop is complete.

The film ends on this note of devastating revelation: that the memory which enabled his journey through time was his own death, witnessed by his younger self.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. La Jetée does not have a post-credits scene. It is a tightly constructed short film with a definitive and emotionally powerful ending that requires no epilogue or continuation.

Type of Movie

La Jetée is a science fiction film that delves into psychological, philosophical, and existential themes. It’s also an early example of the time travel subgenre, and has been categorized as experimental cinema due to its unique form—told entirely in still images with voiceover narration.

Cast

• Davos Hanich as The Man
• Hélène Chatelain as The Woman
• Jacques Ledoux as The Narrator (French version)

Note: The cast remains largely unnamed in the film, emphasizing universal themes over individual identity.

Film Music and Composer

The film features a minimalist score that blends classical music, ambient soundscapes, and sound effects. There’s no formal credited composer, but the use of music is sparse and used more as emotional accentuation than full scoring. The sound design was orchestrated by Trevor Duncan, particularly his piece “The Burning House.”

Filming Locations

The key location is Orly Airport in Paris, where both the protagonist’s childhood memory and the film’s climax take place. The use of Orly, a symbol of travel and movement, reinforces the film’s central theme of time as both a prison and a portal.

The subterranean ruins of Paris (post-war) were shot in various real underground settings and war ruins, chosen for their bleak, timeless aesthetic.

Awards and Nominations

• Prix Jean Vigo (1963) – Awarded to Chris Marker for innovation and artistic independence.
• La Jetée has also received wide academic and critical acclaim and has been preserved and exhibited in museum retrospectives and film archives worldwide.

Behind the Scenes Insights

• Chris Marker used a 35mm Pentax camera to shoot the still photographs.
• The only moving image in the entire film is the blink of the woman’s eyes, a jarring and beautiful moment that stands out in contrast to the stillness.
• Marker deliberately chose stills to emphasize the idea that memory itself is composed of frozen images rather than moving film.
• The film’s narration was originally intended to be silent, but Marker was convinced to add voice-over for accessibility.

Inspirations and References

• Based on ideas from Marcel Proust’s theories of involuntary memory and Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, both of which influence the film’s obsession with memory, love, and the past.
• It heavily inspired Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys (1995), which expands the premise into a full-length feature.
• Influences from existentialist literature, particularly Camus and Sartre, are present in the film’s meditations on time, fate, and free will.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Due to its concise and deliberate structure, La Jetée does not have alternate endings or deleted scenes. Marker meticulously crafted the story with a fixed structure and rhythm, and no extended cuts are known to exist.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Though not based on a specific book, La Jetée has been the subject of numerous academic books and essays, especially in film theory and philosophy. The film itself can be seen as a literary text, with its dense narration and imagery resembling a photo-novel or cinematic prose poem.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

• The first experiment: the stark black-and-white image of the man with electrodes.
• The romantic sequences in pre-war Paris: their silent strolls and tender moments.
• The moment the woman opens her eyes—the only moving shot in the film.
• The man’s death at Orly Airport, witnessed by his younger self.

Iconic Quotes

• “Nothing distinguishes memories from ordinary moments. Only later do they make themselves known, from their scars.”
• “The man was called… the man without a past, with only a future he couldn’t reach.”
• “He knew that he had seen the death of a man, at an age when death is but a word, not a reality.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

• The use of Orly Airport reflects Cold War anxieties about technology, air travel, and escape.
• The woman’s blink is meant to jolt the viewer—a metaphorical “reawakening” to the illusion of cinema.
• The photo sequence subtly mimics film movement through rhythm, pacing, and visual continuity.

Trivia

• Marker refused interviews and avoided being photographed, preferring anonymity and mystique.
• The film was shot with almost no budget, using friends and volunteers as cast and crew.
• Marker was a close associate of Alain Resnais, and shared his interest in memory, as seen in Hiroshima mon amour.
• The film was ranked among the greatest short films of all time by critics and filmmakers alike.

Why Watch?

La Jetée is essential viewing for fans of philosophical science fiction, time travel, and cinema as an art form. It’s a film about memory, love, and inevitability that continues to resonate emotionally and intellectually. Its unique structure makes it not just a film but an experience—one that lingers long after the final still.

Director’s Other Movies

• Sans Soleil (1983)
• A Grin Without a Cat (1977)
• Level Five (1997)
• Le Joli Mai (1963)
• The Koumiko Mystery (1965)

Recommended Films for Fans

• 12 Monkeys (1995)
• Sans Soleil (1983)
• Last Year at Marienbad (1961)
• Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959)
• Stalker (1979)
• The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
• Upstream Color (2013)