Philosophy could be considered the science of ideas, so what better place to look for inspiration for sci-fi or fantasy than story telling.

This feature film takes its title from an unfinished book by Enlightenment French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The work plays a pivotal role as the three-pronged story unfurls – of a poet obsessed by reveries, a young student and a child in the woods.

The poet, also named Jean-Jacques, is struggling with his own demons as he tries to finish his work; he is searching for the origins of the unfinished book, which brings him into contact with all sorts of bizarre characters including the boy who is trying to escape from a sinister forest.

Each story strand is stylistically diverse, from the claustrophobic confines of the writer’s studio, to the wide-angle shots of the student’s world, to the stop-motion animation of the boy in the forest.

The film is both thought-provoking, without being too maudlin, and a visual treat that should not be missed. If you like Dave McKean’s Mirror mask , or the works of Tim Burton, then this is for you.