Michel Gondry’s new short film ‘Détour’ shot on iPhone7
Director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) has shot his latest short film entirely on his iPhone7.
Détour is eleven minutes of heartwarming whimsy telling the story of a little girl’s tricycle. After falling off the back of the family’s car, the bike goes on an adventure through the French countryside to find its owner. Détour is inspired by works of auteur filmmakers Jacques Tati (Trafic) & Albert Lamorisse (The Red Balloon), and is infused with Gondry’s signature fanciful style.
Production and Apple Partnership
The short film was funded by Apple to demonstrate the newest iPhone’s filming capabilities. Combined with Gondry’s imagination and playful approach, the result is a delightful example of what is possible for indie directors today. If anything, the French filmmaker was liberated by his minimal equipment, as it allowed him to film in intimate locations, where a full crew would have been restrictive. Funded by Apple in 2017 to demo iPhone 7 capabilities, the tutorials on techniques like time-lapse and slow motion appear removed from public platforms.
Legacy and Accessibility of Détour
The film has remained publicly available on YouTube for nearly a decade with sustained views, demonstrating its enduring appeal as an example of mobile filmmaking. Uploaded to YouTube around 2017 with 140K+ views noted in 2026 access, Détour continues to be referenced in educational contexts for mobile filmmaking.
Gondry's Subsequent Career Milestones
The original article ends by looking ahead to Gondry's next feature; updating with actual releases provides context on his post-Détour output. The Book of Solutions released 2023. Maya, Give Me a Title (animated feature) released 2024 after five years of creation with his daughter.
Gondry's Recent Short-Form Work
Détour was a notable short; recent commissions show continued engagement with the format in high-profile campaigns. Directed 2025 Chanel Métiers d'Art 2026 teaser featuring Margaret Qualley and A$AP Rocky.
Mobile Filmmaking Impact and Tutorials Status
The article highlights Apple's tutorials; their apparent removal and the film's educational use warrant a dedicated update on accessibility of behind-the-scenes materials. Tutorials noted as removed from YouTube by 2017 reports. Film used in educational settings for teaching mobile production techniques.
Apple released six tutorials to explain how the director used his phone to achieve various techniques, including time-lapse, slow motion, stop motion, night scenes, and perspective tricks. When I used the iPhone, there were times when I wanted to give a more classical aesthetic, by imagining it was a 15-kilo camera that can only move slowly, explained Gondry in one of the six tutorials. Filmmakers are given unique insight into his thought process through these behind-the-scenes clips. The small crew used lightweight rigging techniques to keep the iPhone’s movements smooth and achieve clever angles by attaching it to the tricycle’s pedals. The overall effect is a warm and summery short film, serving as a wonderful introduction to Gondry’s work, as well as exciting fans for his next feature. Post-Détour features include The Book of Solutions (2023) and Maya, Give Me a Title (2024).
