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
111 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
111 months ago
It's not the camera, but the minds behind the camera.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nick.haley Avatar
111 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
111 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
111 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
111 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

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature Pink

Apple's 2026 Low-Cost A18 Pro MacBook: What We Know So Far

Friday January 2, 2026 4:33 pm PST by
Apple is planning to release a low-cost MacBook in 2026, which will apparently compete with more affordable Chromebooks and Windows PCs. Apple's most affordable Mac right now is the $999 MacBook Air, and the upcoming low-cost MacBook is expected to be cheaper. Here's what we know about the low-cost MacBook so far. Size Rumors suggest the low-cost MacBook will have a display that's around 13 ...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
govee floor lamp

CES 2026: Govee Announces New Matter-Connected Ceiling and Floor Lights

Sunday January 4, 2026 5:00 am PST by
Govee today introduced three new HomeKit-compatible lighting products, including the Govee Floor Lamp 3, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra, and the Govee Sky Ceiling Light. The Govee Floor Lamp 3 is the successor to the Floor Lamp 2, and it offers Matter integration with the option to connect to HomeKit. The Floor Lamp 3 offers an upgraded LuminBlend+ lighting system that can reproduce 281...
Belkin 25W Battery magnetic

CES 2026: Belkin Announces Magnetic Ring Power Bank, Modular Dock, and More

Sunday January 4, 2026 3:02 pm PST by
Belkin today announced a range of new charging and connectivity accessories at CES 2026, expanding its portfolio of products aimed at Apple device users. UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Magnetic Ring The lineup includes new Qi2 and Qi2.2 wireless chargers, magnetic power banks, a high-capacity laptop battery, and USB-C productivity accessories, with an emphasis on higher charging...