La Jete

Dir. Chris Marker,

(1962)

Film Review

Storytelling & Commission

La Jete
Director: Chris Marker

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La Jete is a short science fiction film that was directed by Chris Marker in 1962. The production is almost entirely created of still imagery, and tells the story of postnuclear war experiments concerning the means of time travel. Notably, the film went on to inspire Terry Gilliams 1995 film, 12 Monkeys which shared similar ideas and themes to Makers work. Arguably, the most successful element of La Jete is the emotional bond which develops in such a short amount of time between audience and character. Critic Melin shares a similar observation stating that Hitchcocks Rope is; a stirring, emotional film about the unique hold memories have over people's lives (Melin, 2012) In agreement with Melin, the way the perception of memories is developed throughout is somewhat relatable and develops a notion possibly theorising that memories hold power over peoples lives. The emotional bond is also enhanced through the use of the films editing style which provides a perspective that places the audience in a view which replicates that of looking back into old memories or even old photographs.

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Moreover, La Jete also explores compelling queries that aid in building a unique narrative which becomes clearer as the film progresses. However, some questions are left without answers. This convention works well within the film, but more specifically with the twist-ending and provides for multiple interpretations regarding the genre and the psychological ride in which audience experience. Schwartz acknowledges that; The mysterious and gripping plot raises unanswerable questions about time, memory and the progress of life on this planet. (Schwartz, 2007) The questions constructed play a part in the way that the film is interpreted, having possible hidden contexts or ideas within the narrative. The way in which the film is fabricated supports this, leaving open ends to the history and the possible narrative backgrounds which make it easy to fully appreciate the success of the conveyance of the emotions and drama, which La Jete richly implements over the unfolding of its story. These factors have allowed Markers film to become a renowned influence for different forms of media, debatably due to the effectiveness of its simplicity in contrast with the strong storytelling. Critic Jardine compares La Jete to Sergei Eisenstein, a Soviet Russian film director and theorist, correlating that Markers production is like; Eisenstein stripped back to the studs. Powerful, haunting, unforgettable. (Jardine,
2006)

The comparison draws upon the effectiveness of La Jete as a whole, having a similarity to the basic minimalism of Eisenstein work, which granted him the name; the king of montage. Using only still images and short clips, Eisenstein created full length features, and with this in mind, the observation Jardine draws upon accurately sums up the blend between styles, having relevant similarities between the works of Eisenstein, and the short montage of Markers La Jete. Overall, Chris Markers short seems to be a film before its time, with an in depth plotline that seeks out an exciting narrative, having the psychological drama effectively enhance its traditional styles of film making.

Review Bibliography

References Melin, E (2012) available at: www.scene-stealers.com; www.scene-stealers.com/columns/overlooked-movie-monday/la-jetee-sans-solielblu-ray-review/ [accessed online on 8 January 2013]. Schwartz, D (2007) available at: www.rottentomatoes.com; http://homepages.sover.net/~ozus/lajetee.htm [accessed online on 12 January 2013]. Jardine, D (2006) available at: www.rottentomatoes.com; http://djardine.blogspot.co.uk/2006/09/la-jetee-dan-briefly-interjects-and.html [accessed online on 12 January 2013].

Illustrations Figure 1: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f7/La_Jetee_Poster.jpg/220pxLa_Jetee_Poster.jpg Figure 2: http://allfordeadtime.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/fetch.jpg Figure 3: www.shortoftheweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/la_jetee_sm.jpg Figure 4: http://static.guim.co.uk/sysimages/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/7/30/1343648019577/Chris-Markers-La-Jet-ewa-008.jpg