Andrew Litten's thought-provoking video for Belle & Sebastian features Olympic figure skater Jonathan Cassar, who uses his time on the ice to escape from the demons of his past.Litten's approach to I Don't Know What You See In Me - a song from the new Belle & Sebastian album Late Developers - is to create a starkly cold aesthetic and faintly disturbing atmosphere at a vintage ice rink, which is deserted apart from the presence of Cassar. This is a real counterpoint to the familiar lightness of B&S frontman Stuart Murchoch's voice, and then the champion skater begins a graceful routine on the ice with plastic bag taped around his head. This powerful symbol of suffocation remains until the final moments of the video. "The band was passionate about this being a character study of a figure skater, and referenced one of my favourite noirs, The Swimmer," Litten explains. "I wanted to juxtapose the sensitivity of the song - which speaks to depression, self image and acceptance - with a narrative that confronts these feelings head on."The bag and the pulses of suffocation serve as a reminder of the baggage we carry throughout our lives, and how we cannot truly see ourselves until we have done the work to do so. I have endless gratitude to Stuart and the band for allowing us to create something so bold and unnerving with a hint of catharsis."It's a touching and powerful exploration of self acceptance, with plenty of engaging visuals to keep viewers hooked.
Rob Ulitski - 12th Jan 2023