U2 'Song For Someone' by Vincent Haycock

Cat Velez - 13th July 2015

Vincent Haycock has directed this understated yet quietly powerful short film for the U2 track Song For Someone, starring Woody Harrelson as a prisoner who is being released from the relative security of jail after years of incarceration, back into the outside world.

With camerawork by Steve Annis, the core of the video is a single shot of the increasingly emotional Harrelson leaving the confines of prison, passing through the gate and meeting the person who's there to take him away - his daughter (played by the actor's real-life daughter, Zoe Harrelson), who greets him with an awkward handshake, and monosyllibic responses to his tentative comments.  

It's subtly played, and fully believable. Premiered on Sundance TV, Vince Haycock's film thematically links to RECTIFY, SundanceTV’s Peabody award-winning series that follows the story of Daniel Holden and his family as they struggle to move forward after Daniel’s release from 19 years on death row.