La Jetée is arguably one of the most distinctive and memorable of the films which emerged from the French New Wave of the early 1960s. It’s also one of the most influential and radical science-fiction films ever made (Marker’s story of menacing governmental experiments and time travel is told through a succession of almost entirely still images), a melancholy fable about memory, loss, childhood and destiny.

Selected for Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes in 2009, Mikhaël Hers’ third short film turns the titular Parisian neighbourhood into a theatre of feelings. Actions develop and characters emerge through subtle gestures, quick looks, off-hand remarks and whispered conversations. The camera follows the characters, creating a dramatic tension and offering pure and authentic moments of everyday life through this simple stroll across Montparnasse.<