| All Too Well: The Short Film | |
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 Official poster | |
| Directed by | Taylor Swift |
| Written by | Taylor Swift |
| Based on | "All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From the Vault)" by Taylor Swift |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Rina Yang |
| Edited by | Ted Guard |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
All Too Well: The Short Film is a 2021musicalromantic dramashort film written and directed by the American singer-songwriterTaylor Swift in her filmmaking debut. Afilm adaptation of her critically-acclaimed song "All Too Well" (2012), it is set against the backdrop of the uncut,10-minute version of the song released in 2021. It starsSadie Sink andDylan O'Brien as a romantic couple whose up-and-down relationship ultimately falls apart, compounded by theirage gap. Swift cited the works ofBarbara Stanwyck,John Cassavetes, andNoah Baumbach as artistic influences upon the film.
Produced by Saul Projects andTaylor Swift Productions,All Too Well: The Short Film was released on November 12, 2021, in select theaters byUniversal Pictures and on YouTube byUMG'sPolyGram Entertainment andRepublic Records, in conjunction with Swift's second re-recorded album,Red (Taylor's Version). After a premiere at theAMC Theatres inLincoln Square, New York City, it had alimited theatrical release in major cities as well as special screenings at the 2022Tribeca andToronto film festivals. It received critical acclaim, with particular praise directed towards Swift's direction as a debut filmmaker as well as the acting, script, drama, and production values.
The film garnered several awards and nominations from music and film organizations, including anAmerican Music Award, aHollywood Critics Association Award, anArt Directors Guild Award and aGrammy Award for Best Music Video; at the2022 MTV Video Music Awards, it wonVideo of the Year andBest Direction, making Swift the first artist inVMA history to win Best Direction for a self-directed work.
All Too Well: The Short Film is afilm adaptation of the 10-minute version of the song "All Too Well" by the American singer-songwriterTaylor Swift.[1] It also functions as amusic video for the song.[2] A literary quote from the Chilean poetPablo Neruda—"Love is so short, forgetting is so long", from his poem "Puedo Escribir Los Versos"—opens the film.[note 1] The story chronicles the relationship of two doomed lovers, Her and Him, compounded by anage gap.[4] "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" plays throughout the film, except during a dialogued conflict between Her and Him.[5] The song details a blooming romance between two people and its subsequent dissolution and resulting heartbreak.[6] The nearly 15-minute film is divided into seven chapters—"An Upstate Escape", "The First Crack in the Glass", "Are You Real?", "The Breaking Point", "The Reeling", "The Remembering", and theepilogue "Thirteen Years Gone"—describing the relationship between Her and Him through various phases.[7]
The story starts with the couple lying in bed together, Her (Sadie Sink) mesmerized by Him (Dylan O'Brien[note 2]). They venture intoupstate New York in a car. Her leavesher red scarf at a house belonging to Him's sister. Their relationship takes a turn at a dinner party, where Him ignores his girlfriend with a hand gesture, as he is busy catching up with his friends, making Her uncomfortable. They fight afterwards; Him is arrogant and dismissive, while a distraught Her is heartbroken but still wants to stay with Him. He apologizes and kisses Her to end the argument, and they dance in the refrigerator light. Him starts to distance himself from Her, eventually breaking up with her. A devastated Her weeps in bed, ignoring his phone calls. Her is seen typing on hertypewriter and crumpling paper sheets. A montage shows Her alone at parties and sorrowful on her 21st birthday.[note 3] Him's life carries on as he walks alone down aBrooklyn street, recalling some of the happier moments in his relationship with Her. The film then jumps 13 years into the future, where Her (Taylor Swift[note 4]) has become an author and released her bookAll Too Well,[note 5] presumably detailing the heartache she went through with Him. She reads from the book to an audience in a packed bookstore. Outside the store, an older Him stands in the snow, watching Her through the window, wearing the same scarf she left behind 13 years ago.
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Swift stated via her social media thatAll Too Well: The Short Film was shot on35 mm film by Japanese-Korean-British cinematographerRina Yang.[10][11] Yang used an "ArriArriflex 235 forhandheld andsteadicam, andPanavision MXL for dolly work"; lenses were Panavision Primo, with 11:1 Primo zoom. She shot exterior scenes onKodakEktachrome—the same kind she had used to shoot theHBO television seriesEuphoria.[12] Swift cited "Barbara Stanwyck films, particularly 1937'sStella Dallas", as artistic influences upon her film in addition to those ofJohn Cassavetes andNoah Baumbach, especially hisdrama filmMarriage Story (2019), among other works.[13][14] She also mentioned the filmsThe Way We Were (1973),Love Story (1970), andKramer vs. Kramer (1979) as sources of inspiration.[15]
Swift said she wanted tell a story about "girlhoodcalcifying into this bruised adulthood" with the film.[16] OnLate Night with Seth Meyers, she said she cast Sink and O'Brien because they were the only two people she imagined playing the roles, noting that she was a fan of O'Brien's works and that she would not have proceeded with making the film had Sink turned down the offer. Swift explained that she likes "working with friends or people who I think would be excited about working with me" and added that she was "just blown away by what [Sink and O'Brien] did—they went out and left it all on the field".[17] Sink stated she accepted Swift's offer without hesitation as she was a fan of Swift and was also interested in playing a "more rounded and mature" role while portraying herStranger Things characterMax Mayfield during production of the series'fourth season.[18]Stranger Things executive producerShawn Levy makes a cameo appearance as the father of Sink's character in the short film.[19][20] Swift further revealed that Sink and O'Brien "were so electric and [improvising] a lot of what they were doing that we just couldn't take the camera off [them]".[7] At the end of the film, Swift played an older version of Sink's character.[21]
In June 2021, Swift announced that her re-recorded album,Red (Taylor's Version), a re-recording of her fourth studio albumRed (2012), would be released on November 19, 2021; the release date was later moved up to November 12.[22] It contains both the re-recorded version of the track "All Too Well" and its 10-minute uncut version as a bonus track "from the vault".[23][24] On November 5, 2021,Good Morning America revealed a teaser for the short film.[25][26] The teaser featured a vintage car driving down on a quiet road surrounded by autumnal trees, as well as the names of the cast members.[10]All Too Well: The Short Film is a dramatized account of the incidents and dynamics of the relationship described in the song.[6] It is about "an effervescent, curious young woman who ends up completely out of her depth", stated Swift.[27] She described it as an expression of her gratitude to her fans for their reception to the song "All Too Well" over the years.[28]
The film's world premiere took place on November 13 at theAMC Theatres inLincoln Square, New York City[29] with handpicked fans among those who attended.[6] Each audience member received an autographed movie poster and a custom packet of tissues.[30] Swift performed "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" in the theatre after the screening.[28] The film was later released on the same day on YouTube, 13 hours after the album's release at midnight.[31] It had alimited theatrical release in major cities.[32]
It was also screened in two film festivals. On June 11, 2022,All Too Well: The Short Film had a special screening at the 2022Tribeca Film Festival at theBeacon Theatre in New York City.[33] The film was screened in its 35 mm form for the first time at the2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2022, at theTIFF Bell Lightbox inToronto,Ontario.[14]
A video of behind the scenes from the short film was released on December 8, 2022.[34]
All Too Well: The Short Film received acclaim from film critics,[35][36][1] with particular emphasis on Swift's vision as a filmmaker.[37]Variety's Ramin Setoodeh dubbed the short film "a music video on steroids meets aNoah Baumbach movie".[2] Brittany Spanos ofRolling Stone called it a "dramatic and moving" film that "digs deep into heartache andscarf lore".[38] Rhian Daly ofNME said the film underscores "the emotional power of [Swift's] storytelling" with "devastating cinematography" and "electric performances" by Sink and O'Brien.[39]Collider's Ryan Louis Mantilla reported that "Sink and O'Brien bring Swift's characters to life with vividly emotional performances telling an incredibly moving tale of love, power,gaslighting, and heartache in the 15-minute film."[40]
Karl Quinn, in his review forThe Sydney Morning Herald, complimented the "gorgeously clichedNotebook-style" screenplay, Swift's direction, and the "finely tuned" performances of Sink and O'Brien.[41]Vogue's Sarah Spellings said many of the film's scenes felt like "in-jokes with the audience" and commended the midway dialogue featuring an argument between Sink and O'Brien's characters: "It felt less like a real fight and more like how you describe a fight to your friends later. In other words, it was a depiction of how a fight feels."[42] InUSA Today, Patrick Ryan wrote that the film was "operatic in its emotions and scope" and felt the argument scene was "particularly gut-wrenching".[43]Billboard's Paul Grein also praised the argument, saying the writing in the scene is "so vivid that it's easy to see Swift winning anOscar for screenwriting one day".[5]
Laura Coates, publishing onRogerEbert.com, commended Swift's direction, the "meticulouslighting and eye forproduction design", Yang's camerawork, and the "electric" chemistry between Sink and O'Brien. Coates highlighted the argument scene as well: "Though the instinct may be to emphasize the volatility of their relationship with quick, jarring cuts, the unflinching persistence of thesingle take means the viewer is left with nothing to do but squirm and despair as we watch their relationship fall apart before our eyes."[36] In a less favorable review, Renaldo Matadeen ofComic Book Resources described the film as a "powerful character portrait" with "great cinematography and clever pacing", but felt that Swift's appearance near the end as a grown Sink "takes away from the artistic, auteur feel" of the film, preventing it from being a "perfectindie film".[44]
The film briefly had the highest rating on film review siteLetterboxd beforeParasite (2019) regained the status.[32][11]
Following its release to YouTube, the film was the number-one trending video on the platform with over 14 million views.[11] It amassed 32 million views in its first three days.[41] The short film helped its source material, "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)", debut atop theBillboard Hot 100 chart, garnering Swift her eighth number-one song in the US, and thelongest song ever to top the chart—a feat recognized inGuinness World Records.[45] As of September 2024, the film has over 101 million views on YouTube.[46]
All Too Well: The Short Film has received awards recognition in a diverse set of fields. It was nominated in five categories at the2022 MTV Video Music Awards, including Swift's fifth nomination forVideo of the Year,[note 6]—a record tied withBeyoncé for the most Video of the Year nominations;[5] Swift was also nominated forBest Direction for a third consecutive year, following the music videos of "The Man" in2020 and "Willow" in2021.[47][48] The film won Video of the Year andBest Longform Video, and Swift won Best Direction; she became the first artist to win Video of the Year three times, and the first artist to win Video of the Year for a self-directed video.[49] She won four awards at the2022 MTV Europe Music Awards, includingBest Artist andBest Pop Act for the first time, and tied withLady Gaga as the most awarded woman inEMA history (12 each).[50] Swift won six awards at the2022 American Music Awards, includingFavorite Music Video andArtist of the Year.[51] In 2023, Swift became the first artist to win theGrammy Award for Best Music Video as sole director; it was her second win in the category after "Bad Blood" (2015).[52]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NME Awards | March 2, 2022 | Best Music Video | Nominated | ||
| ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards | March 5, 2022 | Short Format: Web Series, Music Video or Commercial | Ethan Tobman, Mila Khalevich, Emil Pilosov | Won | |
| Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia | June 7, 2022 | Global Spotlight Award | Swift | Nominated | |
| Set Decorators Society of America Awards | August 2, 2022 | Best Achievement in Decor/Design of a Short Format | Tobman, Khalevich | Nominated | |
| MTV Video Music Awards | August 28, 2022 | Video of the Year | Swift | Won | |
| Best Longform Video | Won | ||||
| Best Direction | Won | ||||
| Best Editing | Ted Guard | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Rina Yang | Nominated | |||
| UK Music Video Awards | October 27, 2022 | Best Cinematography in a Video | Yang, Swift | Nominated | |
| MTV Europe Music Awards | November 13, 2022 | Best Video | Swift | Won | |
| Best Longform Video | Won | ||||
| American Music Awards | November 21, 2022 | Favorite Music Video | Won | ||
| Grammy Awards | February 5, 2023 | Best Music Video | Swift, Saul Germaine | Won | |
| Hollywood Critics Association Awards | February 24, 2023 | Best Short Film | Swift | Won |
Publications have described the short film as one of the biggest newsmakers andpop culture moments of 2021.[62]iHeartRadio called it a "cultural sensation", and the short film also invited "Oscar buzz",[63][64][65][66]Google searches of Sink and O'Brien reached an all-time high upon its release.[67] Various media outlets described the short film's absence from the shortlist for the 2023Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film a snub.[68][46]
Canadian singerMichael Bublé, in the music video for his 2022 single "I'll Never Not Love You", referenced and recreated iconic "love scenes" from various films with his wife, Luisana Lopilato; it includedAll Too Well: The Short Film, with Bublé as Him and Lopilato as Her.[69]
The Department of English of theQueen's University at Kingston, a publicresearch university inOntario, Canada, offers afall semester course titled "Taylor Swift's Literary Legacy (Taylor's Version)", with asyllabus requiring students to analyze many of Swift's works, such asAll Too Well: The Short Film, to understand their literary references andsociopolitical relevance in contemporary culture.[70]
Following the success of the short film, Swift was inspired to venture further into filmmaking.[71][72] In December 2022,Searchlight Pictures announced that Swift has written an original script and will direct her debutfeature film; details about the cast, plot, and title were withheld "until a later date".[73] She took part inVariety's Directors on Directors series opposite British-Irish filmmakerMartin McDonagh to elucidate her filmmaking approach.[74]
According toKodak, the short film, which was photographed in 35mmEktachrome by Yang, contributed to generating an "enormous interest" in the format.[75]
The short, starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien as an embattled couple, received strong acclaim upon release [...]
The short film, starringStranger Thing's Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien, premiered on November 12th to critical acclaim.
Nearly a year after the short film's debut—garnering near-universal acclaim
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