Apple this afternoon shared a short film created by French director Michel Gondry, who is known for indie movies like The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep. The film is available on Apple's French site and on its UK and French YouTube channels.

Called Détour, the 11 minute short was captured entirely on an iPhone and funded by Apple. It features the story of a tricycle that falls off of a car as a family heads out on vacation and its journey to find its owner, a little girl. On its travels, the tricycle encounters a wide range of colorful characters and experiences some emotional moments before finding its happy ending.


Détour is accompanied by six additional short tutorial videos that give a behind the scenes look at the filming and offer up some video capturing tips for iPhone users. Topics covered include "A cinematic touch," "Time-lapse," "Stop motion," "Slo-mo," "Night scenes," and "Perspective tricks."




Apple plans to screen Détour at the Marché Saint-Germain Apple Store in Paris on June 30. Michel Gondry will also be present to share details on the making of the film and to take about the future of cinema.

Top Rated Comments

Floris Avatar
109 months ago
Just don't forget please:

Additional hardware and software used.

And that matters, besides creativity, a team of people to help out and a budget to do amazing creative things to create a fun video. Tens of thousands of equipment for additional steady cam and camera lenses etc, makes it kinda out of reach to everybody else to achieve the same.

I am looking forward to the days where the disclaimer actually says: Completely filmed with, and shot with default Apple products and software, no additional hardware or third party software used.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
filmantopia Avatar
109 months ago
It's not the camera, but the minds behind the camera.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nick.haley Avatar
109 months ago
Huh? No. Everything in that shoot can be accomplished for cheap, or done D.I.Y.. That world has changed. Yes he chose actual pro rental gear he's used to using, but about the priciest thing you couldn't improvise was the camera stabilizer, and those are being made for only $200-300 for iPhone & GoPro. I didn't see any extra camera lens attachments. Everything else - tripod, phone brackets & attachment methods, etc. - all are easily reproduced for cheap or free. It's being done all the time now. Even the light-shielding pro-level sunlight blocking flags and canvas attached to pro camera stands can be - and is on a regular basis - reproduced. I used cardboard or a $40 reflector the other day. Other than that, grab a few friends to help. My friends do this stuff all the time and get paid for it. What you see onscreen is vision and technique.
I'm inclined to agree -- and would argue that Gondry's style can sometimes fit into the playful / rough and ready (but don't be fooled it can be much harder to achieve than it looks!)...

Watch the BTS clip 'A Cinematic Touch'... they haven't used an OSMO etc...

That 'steadicam' in the (Tour De France? lol) shot of the bike being cheered on down the hill? That almost looks handmade out of dowling / piping, and a plastic spring-grip used as counterbalance... so save for the actual handgrip which you also see in the bike wheel shot (17-18")... it looks like a cheap set up.
(have noticed a lens attachment here, noga arm...) but still we are not talking about BUCKETS of cash.

I enjoyed the crudity of just using wire and string ... the obvious nature of the plastic bag attaching itself to the bike to get its on its journey.

Gondry may have crew, but at least some of the tech seems pretty low tech and could be imitated by people starting out. Granted though it's 'cute' here and in a different set up could seem naff or corny.


UPDATE: It's a twig. They used a twig!


Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
caskin8a Avatar
109 months ago
I was looking forward to it, but ultimately underwhelmed here. Gonna get hate for posting this but especially next to the Samsung comparison:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Morris Avatar
109 months ago
Michel Gondry is also responsible for one of the weirdest and most impressive music videos of all time, Aphex Twin's Come To Daddy.
[MEDIA=dailymotion]xodid[/MEDIA]
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zapnyc Avatar
109 months ago
Just don't forget please:

Additional hardware and software used.
... Tens of thousands of equipment for additional steady cam and camera lenses etc, makes it kinda out of reach to everybody else to achieve the same.


Huh? No. Everything in that shoot can be accomplished for cheap, or done D.I.Y.. That world has changed. Yes he chose actual pro rental gear he's used to using, but about the priciest thing you couldn't improvise was the camera stabilizer, and those are being made for only $200-300 for iPhone & GoPro. I didn't see any extra camera lens attachments. Everything else - tripod, phone brackets & attachment methods, etc. - all are easily reproduced for cheap or free. It's being done all the time now. Even the light-shielding pro-level sunlight blocking flags and canvas attached to pro camera stands can be - and is on a regular basis - reproduced. I used cardboard or a $40 reflector the other day. Other than that, grab a few friends to help. My friends do this stuff all the time and get paid for it. What you see onscreen is vision and technique.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

m1 chip slide

Five Years of Apple Silicon: M1 to M5 Performance Comparison

Monday November 10, 2025 1:08 pm PST by
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Apple silicon chip that replaced Intel chips in Apple's Mac lineup. The first Apple silicon chip, the M1, was unveiled on November 10, 2020. The M1 debuted in the MacBook Air, Mac mini, and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The M1 chip was impressive when it launched, featuring the "world's fastest CPU core" and industry-leading performance per watt, and it's only ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Available Next Month With These 8 New Features

Tuesday November 11, 2025 9:48 am PST by
Apple released the first iOS 26.2 beta last week. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date....
All Screen iPhone 2027 Feature 1

Apple to Hide Selfie Camera Under Display of 20th Anniversary iPhone

Monday November 10, 2025 1:55 am PST by
Apple will conceal the front-facing camera under the screen of its 2027 iPhone, a Chinese leaker said today, corroborating reports that Apple's 20th anniversary iPhone will have no visible cutouts in the display. Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station said Apple's development of under-screen camera technology was progressing as planned for adoption in 2027, one year after it will...
iphone pocket%402x

Apple Debuts iPhone Pocket, a Limited Edition iPod Sock-Style Accessory

Tuesday November 11, 2025 1:23 am PST by
Apple has teamed up with Japanese fashion house ISSEY MIYAKE to launch iPhone Pocket, a 3D-knitted limited edition accessory designed to carry an iPhone, AirPods, and other everyday items. The accessory is like a stretchy pocket, not unlike an iPod Sock, but elongated to form a strap made of a ribbed, elastic textile that fully encloses an iPhone yet allows you to glimpse the display...
iphone air thinness

iPhone Air Sales Are So Bad That Apple's Delaying the Next-Generation Version

Monday November 10, 2025 11:41 am PST by
The thin, light iPhone Air sold so poorly that Apple has decided to delay the launch of the next-generation iPhone Air that was scheduled to come out alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, reports The Information. Apple initially planned to release a new iPhone Air in fall 2026, but now that's not going to happen. Since the iPhone Air launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales...
Early Black Friday Deals 1

The Best Early Black Friday Apple Deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and More

Saturday November 8, 2025 6:16 am PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
homepod mini colors

New HomePod Mini Coming Soon With These Features

Tuesday November 11, 2025 7:30 am PST by
Apple is expected to announce a new HomePod mini imminently, headlining with new chips. Here are all of the new features we're expecting. The second-generation HomePod mini is highly likely to contain a more up-to-date chip for more advanced computational audio and improved responsiveness. The current HomePod mini is equipped with the Apple Watch Series 5's S5 chip from 2019. Apple is likely ...
Apple fitness plus feature

Future of Apple Fitness+ 'Under Review'

Sunday November 9, 2025 5:30 am PST by
The future of Apple Fitness+ is "under review" amid a reorganization of the service, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple Fitness+ remains one of the company's "weakest digital offerings." The service apparently suffers from high churn and little revenue. Nevertheless, Fitness+ has a small, loyal fanbase that...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Early Black Friday iPhone Deals

Monday November 10, 2025 10:18 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More

Thursday November 6, 2025 11:12 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the U.S., according to its website. Maximum values for most devices either decreased or saw no change, but the iPad Air received a slight bump. ...