Chris Marker is essentially an audio-visual poet and essayist whose (mainly) non-fiction films are characterized by the use of static images, evocative sound tracks and strong, literate commentary. A prolific writer and still photographer as well, Marker has a directorial perspective which has always been that of the alien in foreign territory, his films travel diaries with political overtones.

Marker's early life is shrouded in some mystery, much of it perpetrated by the filmmaker himself (e.g. born in France, Marker has been known to claim himself as a native of Outer Mongolia). During WWII,