To Leave it Behind

From Videoville

artist: Great Lake Swimmers
director: Scott Cudmore
label: weewerk/Misra
year: 2005
antville post

treatment

Water and the horizon. We hold on this for almost too long before the camera pans around to land on a close-up of Tony, singing directly into the lens. He looks dirty and haggard, worn out and beaten down. He wears a ratty suit jacked and shirt. His pant legs are rolled up and he has barefeet. Soon he walks away and we see that he is standing on a small, remote beach where he has dug a small hole in the sand. He plants a shovel next to the hole and walks into the water, ankle deep. He rinses off his hands and his face. Turning finally, he walks back onto the beach and into the woods just behind. We pan away back to the horizon.

Finally he emerges from the woods carrying with him a leather bag, old fashioned, like a doctors case from the 50’s. Kneeling down next to the hole, he opens the bag and removes a glowing yellow orb or ball which shines light off in all directions. He drops the ball in the hole and begins to pile dirt on top of it, burying it. He packs the earth down firmly and stands up, staring out again at the horizon. He sings the last chorus of the song.

Soon, the entire lake begins to glow with the same gold intensity of the ball. Tony stares out into the distance. Fade to black.