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Kneecap & Paul Hartnoll 'Sayōnara' by Finn Keenan

David Knight - 4th Sept 2025

Following their fierce polemic of The Recap a few months ago, Finn Keenan reunites with Kneecap for their collaboration with Orbital's Paul Hartnoll - and presents the brilliant Jamie-Lee O'Donnell as the office drone who can't get raving out of her head.

With the usual intensity of Kneecap ramped up even further by Hartnoll's beats, in the Sayōnara video Jamie-Lee is disturbed from her office duties by visions of uninhibited nights in clubland - episodes that are increasingly blurring into reality. She's just about keeping it together - even as she starts seeing her suspicious work colleagues in fetishwear.

Until it all kicks off: suddenly Jamie-Lee is driving around Belfast in the Kneecap-pimped Land Rover, and finally streams of light from her eyes and mouth - surely a reference to the iconic Kneecap balaclava. 

This off-the wall comic narrative really works with the track, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell is great, and as with all things Kneecap, the comedy of the raver's existence comes with some serious intent. 

"The intensity and ominous tone of Sayōnara reminded me of both the best nights out and the brutal days that followed - that’s what sparked the idea," explains Finn Keenan. "But I wanted to turn a typical dance video on its head and focus on the aftermath and how the chemicals in your body change as the week progresses. I wanted to capture the visceral intensity of paranoia and intrusive thoughts. Somehow, that 'never again' anxiety of Monday slowly shifts by Friday into a 'Weekend is here. Monday will never happen again!' optimism.

"Through conversations with the band, we also wanted to nod to Belfast’s rave history. In the 90s, raves weren’t just parties - they were acts of resistance, dangerous but vital spaces where Catholics and Protestants came to be together and dance. That spirit is what fuels the scene of Jamie Lee driving the pimped-up Kneecap Land Rover across the city - a kind of rave pied piper, spreading the idea that art, music, and creativity can break down the metaphorical walls which are often stronger than the physical ones. Pent up anger and frustration are released through dance instead of turning into hate.

"Which is what the ludicrous end of the video is about. I wanted this end scene to be feral! Working with Jamie Lee made this possible. She’s one of the most open, vulnerable and fun people i’ve ever met. Working with her was incredible.

"We didn't have a choreographer so for the end dance we’d have a chat before each take and then she channeled her own stories and emotions into the performances, each one completely different than the last and each one genuinely left the crew speechless. It was an incredible thing to witness. She’s a powerhouse!

"Massive thanks to RiffRaff for their support and to all the incredible cast and crew who created such a lovely vibe on set that meant everyone was comfortable doing some of the most bizarre stuff i’ve had to ask people to do on camera. And of course thank you once again to Kneecap for trusting me with this absolute pile of weird!"

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David Knight - 4th Sept 2025

Tags

  • Comedy
  • Director's notes
  • Narrative
  • Pick of the Day
  • Rap
  • Hip Hop
  • Dance
  • Electronic

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Credits

Production/Creative

Director
Finn Keenan
Producer
Olwyn Fagan
Production Company
Executive Producer
Natalie Arnett
1st AD
Darren Fee
Local Producer
Nico McClean
2nd AD
Matt Booth
Crowd AD
Annabel Harkness
Production Assistant
Stephen Adolphus Healy
Production Runner
Jessica Thompson

Camera

Director of Photography
Eoin Mcgloughlin
Focus Puller
Mark Ferris
2nd AC
Matt Booth

Lighting/Grip

Gaffer
Padraig Conaty

Art

Production designer
Noelle Slacked

Wardrobe

Hair
Sharon Watson
Make-up
Karen Hassan
Wardrobe
Timmy White

Casting

Lead actor
Jamie-Lee O'Donnell
Lead Casting
Carla Stronge Casting
Extras Casting
Welli'n O'Reily & The Extras Dept

Editorial

Editor
Finn Keenan
Editor
Ed Jazeera
Additional Materials
Alex Beighton

Grading

Colour Producer
Jamie McCubbin
Colourist
Richard Fearon

VFX

VFX
Ciaran Mcphisto
Post production company

Agent

Director's Representation

Commission

Label
Heavenly Recordings

David Knight - 4th Sept 2025

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