Prolific music video director Joe Connor has delivered a stunning video for Elbow's new track Magnificent, capturing life in Myanmar, mainly from the perspective of young girls who radiate innocent happiness, together with a look at the country's rich spiritual tradition.Propelled forward by a desire to "find obscure stories in far off worlds, small intimate portraits set against a big visual canvas," the piece strikes a balance between glimpsing into the lives of a group of children, and the glistening, gold-capped temples that await those who choose to take the monastic path.And while the piece makes sure to include many of the details that give us a sense of place, its poignancy lies in a loose coming-of-age narrative, cutting between the girls' childhood where carefree play reigns, and the solemn acceptance of monastic life.
Cat Velez - 16th Dec 2016