Chris Marker's photo roman La Jetée is regarded as one of the best and most influential Sci-Fi films ever made. Made in 1962, just as Algeria was declaring its independence from France, the film reflects on the colonialism and history repeating itself. The premise of The Fifth Shot of La Jetée is an intriguing one. Henri, a cousin of Dominique Cabrera the director, recognized himself and his parents in Marker's film, the still of a family, back to the camera, looking at the planes landing from the balcony of the Orly airport. The boy is the one who witnesses his own death. In those days, watching planes taking off and landing was a family pastime activity, and because of that, Marker was able to capture many candid shots for the film. The Fifth Shot is a cinematic detective story and how we, as an audience, have a claim in telling these stories in cinema.
As Cabrera digs through the archives and interviews with people from Marker's inner circle and her own family, it becomes very plausible that the shot is of Henri and his parents. Also, interesting coincidences come to life: Henri, like most Cabreras who were French citizens living in Algeria grew up in the same town as the actor, Davos Hanish, who played the main character in La Jetée. And Henri's mother had gone out with a Hanish boy, according to an old relative. And their resemblance is remarkable.
Cabrera weaves intriguing stories around Marker, who was a very private man, and his work, along with her family history and French colonial past. She reflects on how history repeat itself that we are all slaves to time. The Fifth Shot is a great contemplation on our relationship to cinema.
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