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
110 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
110 months ago
It's not the camera, but the minds behind the camera.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nick.haley Avatar
110 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
110 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
110 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
110 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

iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.2 Beta 3

Monday November 17, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
Apple provided developers with the third beta of an upcoming iOS 26.2 update, and there are still new features that are being added with each beta that we get. We've rounded up all of the changes that Apple made in beta 3. AirDrop Apple added new AirDrop functionality, providing a way for two people to share files temporarily without having to add one another as contacts. iOS 26.2...
Tim Cook WWDC 2018

Report: Tim Cook to Step Down as Apple CEO 'as Soon as Next Year'

Saturday November 15, 2025 2:40 pm PST by
Apple is preparing for Tim Cook to step down as CEO of the company "as soon as next year," according to the Financial Times. The company's board of directors and senior executives "recently intensified preparations for Cook to hand over the reins," the report said. While the report said that Apple is unlikely to name a new CEO before its next earnings report in late January, it went on to ...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Brings New AppleCare+ Options to India

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:42 am PST by
Apple today announced an expansion of AppleCare+ coverage in India, with new options for monthly and annual plans, and the addition of Theft and Loss for iPhone for the first time. Options for monthly and annual AppleCare+ plans in India provide more choice and flexibility, allowing users to keep coverage for as long as they require. Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4

Thursday November 13, 2025 11:35 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4, and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware is 8B21, all up from the prior 8A358 firmware released in October. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods Pro 3...
best early black friday deals

Best Black Friday Apple Deals Live Now - Save on AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watches

Saturday November 15, 2025 1:45 pm 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 ...
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

iPhone Driver's License Feature Launching in Illinois

Tuesday November 18, 2025 8:47 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting this Wednesday, November 19, the feature will be available to residents of Illinois. The announcement confirmed that the...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket Now Available to Order, But Already Selling Out

Friday November 14, 2025 6:20 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. iPhone Pocket is available to order on Apple's online store starting today, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. However, it is already completely sold out in the United...
apple silicon mac lineup 2024 feature purple m5

Apple's 2026 Mac Plans

Friday November 14, 2025 3:23 pm PST by
Most of Apple's Macs are slated to get M5 chips across 2026, and there's a possibility we'll even see the first M6 chips toward the end of the year. Updates are planned for everything from the MacBook Air to the Mac Studio. MacBook Air (Early 2026) The MacBook Air will be one of the first Macs to get a 2026 refresh, with an update planned for the first few months of the year. The MacBook...
tvOS 26 Profiles

tvOS 26.2 Adds a Useful New Feature to Your Apple TV

Friday November 14, 2025 10:02 am PST by
Starting with the upcoming tvOS 26.2 update, currently in beta, additional profiles created on the Apple TV no longer require their own Apple Account. In the Settings app on the Apple TV, under Profiles and Accounts, anyone can create a new profile by simply entering a name and indicating whether the profile is for a kid. The profile will be associated with the primary user's Apple Account,...