5 Essential Experimental Films

2. La Jetée

5 I suppose it could be argued that Chris Marker€™s 1962 masterpiece is the most neglected film in the history of cinema. €œLa Jetée€ (which means €œThe Pier€) is a fictionalised account of a post-World War III Paris, where underground commanders run time experiments on prisoners. The entire film is a series of black-and-white still photos (except for one brief series of images) that help narrate one prisoner's fate. Like €œSans Soleil,€ Marker€™s 1983 film, €œLa Jetée€ speaks to issues around time and memory, but this film is much more accessible€”and thrilling. The bittersweet music, the narrator€™s steady voice that sounds like a scientist€™s, the museum-quality photos, and the gripping plot all make €œLa Jetée€ an inimitable experience.
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Godard and Bresson > Spielberg and Tarantino