HAIM 'Summer Girl' by Paul Thomas Anderson
Rob Ulitski - 8th Aug 2019
Haim recruit iconic film director Paul Thomas Anderson once more for their delightful Summer Girl - their fourth collaboration together in two years. And its another wonderful meeting of great songwriting, the winning personality of the Haim sisters, and brilliant filmmaking craft.
The concept is so simple, but so effective: it starts with the sisters all dressed in heavy winter jackets and jumpers. Then they help each other peel away layer after layer of clothing, while walking along Los Angeles streets - now a trademark Haim move - whilst occasionally bumping into the saxophonist who plays the song's endearing sax refrain. All captured in long, very cinematic takes.
Stripping down into clothes much more suitable for the season, the simple storyline works perfectly for the track, and the plentiful summer vibes are paired with cheery, self-assured performances from the group.
The video itself could have easily gone down a much darker route- in a revealing Instagram post, Danielle Haim states: "I wrote it around the time my partner was diagnosed with cancer a couple years ago... I wanted to be this light that shined on him when he was feeling very dark. I wanted to be his hope when he was feeling hopeless."
She started to sing "I am your sunny girl/I am your fuzzy girl” to him, and this is how the track was born. The choice of a sunny, nostalgic visual certainly feels much more poignant with this background information.
Anderson's confidence in his craft helps elevate the project to auteur level. And as this comes after his acclaimed Anima project with Thom Yorke, this is a big movie director who is now finding regular satisfaction making music videos.Â
In addition, Colin Anderson's wonderful cinematography exploits the abundance of natural light to great effect, and the gold and orange tones of the Kodak film stock heighten the sentimental ambience. It's a great video.Â
Rob Ulitski - 8th Aug 2019
Credits
Production/Creative
- Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- Producer
- Sara Murphy
- Producer
- Erica Frauman
- Production Company
- Ghoulardi Film Company
- Production Coordinator
- Lauren Andrade
Camera
- 1st AC
- Steve Cueva
- 2nd AC
- Jozo Zovko
Wardrobe
- Wardrobe
- Rebecca Grice
Editorial
- Editor
- Andy Jurgensen
Misc
- Camera
- Colin Anderson
Rob Ulitski - 8th Aug 2019