Working primarily in the arena of nonfiction, Marker rejected conventional narrative techniques, instead staking out a deeply political terrain defined by the use of still images, atmospheric soundtracks, and literate commentary. In Description d’un Combat, Marker’s idiosyncratic style, combining location footage with archival material, builds a complex and personal portrayal. Israel’s demography is explored, from the kibbutzim to the Arab minorities, the orthodox Jews, and the tourists. The “battle” of the title does not refer to the tank-and-artillery variety, but to the inner struggle of Israeli citizens to adapt to a new view of themselves, in a new country.

法國導演克里斯．馬克拍攝的紀錄片經典，用詩化的手法與影像，記錄了當時剛建國十年左右的以色列現況。近一小時的片長，透過幾乎不帶情緒的旁白，與看似不經意俯拾記錄的影像，從畫面中的人物、景觀、城市樣貌，對以色列特殊的政治文化背景，做出獨樹一幟的解讀；而聲音蒙太奇上的靈活運用，亦讓影像產生更豐富多元的意涵。

En 1960, douze ans après la déclaration d'indépendance, Chris Marker se rend en Israël. Il interprète, non sans humour et poésie, les signes disparates d'antan et d'aujourd'hui.