The video for 'The Suburbs' is directed by Spike Jonze, and it is about teenage life in suburbia and how it is affected during times of trouble. The video is based on the bands' frontman, Win Butler's experience growing up, when there was a war going on and the city was on military lockdown, and the consequences it had on his frienships.
The video begins at the ending, showing the main character walking accross a field beaten and bleeding, wearing a fast food restaurant uniform. The song then begins and the video proceeds to show a group of kids riding their bikes through the suburbs. The camera pans across the bikes and a tracking shot follows them as they ride through the streets. The video cuts between close ups of each of their faces, showing happy and carefree expressions. The video then cuts to a medium shot which shows soldiers carrying guns patrolling through the streets, then the video cuts straight back to the group of teenagers.
At roughly 1.20, a long shot shows an explosion in the distance, then the scene cuts to a medium close up of the teenagers, showing their changed expressions as they watch. The illustrative relationship between the lyrics and the visuals supports Andrew Goodwins theory, as when the explosion happens, the lyrics are 'the first bomb fell'.
The camera follows the boys ride away on their bikes, using a tracking shot, which gives the effect of fast pace. At roughly 2.50, the mise-en-scene changes as the storyline progresses. The lighting becomes dark, with the only source of light being from the streetlamps, symbolising a darker atmosphere. A medium 2-shot shows the two main characters of the video against a fence being questioned by soldiers. The 2-shot is effective as it shows how differently both of the characters are feeling just from seeing their facial expressions. This is a key moment in the video, as the one of the boys looks angry, whilst the other looks guilty, suggesting he has done something to make the other angry.
The lyrics are 'so move your feet from hot pavement', which plays as the video cuts to a a tracking shot, which follows one the boys running down the middle of the road, a medium close up showing his angry expression. The lighting is darker, symbolising the tense atmosphere and signifying what is about to happen. The video cuts to the main character in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant where he works, as the lyrics are 'in the parking lot we're still waiting'. The video then proceeds to cut between shots of the the kids standing at the window of the restaurant screaming, whilst the lyrics are 'in my dreams we're still screaming', as they watch the main character getting beaten up by his friend. Fast cuts are used to create a sense of fast pace, action and panic. A high angle shot, looking down on the boy with cuts and blood all over his face is used to make him look vulnerable and helpless.
The mise-en-scene throughout the video is appropriate to the genre. The teenagers in the video are wearing casual clothing, jeans and T-shirts, and the soldiers are wearing military clothing. Makeup was used in the video to make it look like the main character was cut and bleeding. The lighting in the video was symbolic to each situation, for example, the video began in broad daylight, as the group of kids were happy and carefree, then the lighting slowly began to get darker until it was pitch black, with the only source of light being from the streetlamps, expressing the dark and negative atmosphere. The lyrics and visuals are connected throughout the entire video, though only in a subtle way.
The entire video is narrative based and does not feature performance from the band. This video will influence my own project as i will aim to create a video with a storyline which is obvious to the viewer as to what is happening. I will also use some of the more significant shots to show how characters are feeling, such as close ups and high angle shots to manipulate the viewer into feeling sympathy for a character.
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