The 1975- Robbers

Music Video Analysis

The opening shot uses a handheld camera of a couple together in a medium shot, the camera tracks them from behind and they appear happy and in love. It then cuts to the couple from behind and the camera tracks them walking, the title of the song and band name appear via a text card. The camera then cuts to the couple from the front and they appear happy, it cuts again to a shot of them from behind and the director name appears via another text card. It then cuts to a different location.

Opening Shot

Close Ups

There a multiple close ups of different actors within the video, this shows their emotion and most match the lyrics or tune of the song. Close ups are used to show the detail and facial features of the actors. A close up of the male actor shows that he is not sober and denotes his drinking and drug habit, as well as his love for his girlfriend. Close ups of the female actor represents her love for her boyfriend and her emotions due to the current situation; like during the robbery scene. There is a close up of the couple looking into each others eyes, this shows the love and sacrifice they have made.

A Bonnie and Clyde like couple are in love but are dysfunctional, they are addicted to drugs and drink a lot of alcohol. They argue but visit places together like a normal couple, like the diner or the cinema. They plan to rob a shop, hinting at the name “robbers” by buying a gun .They then try and put this plan into action with a small group of men, the couple head towards the shop. The male actor is then shot from the inside of the bank and he appears, bleeding and wounded. The female then drags him into the van and they aim to save his life, his main priority is his girlfriend and smoking as we see him smoking a cigarette and kissing his girlfriend. It then shows the couple together, covered in blood in the bathroom; this shows that nothing can tear them apart. Despite them arguing and dysfunctional, they remain together and will never leave each other.

Narrative

Multiple shots of location or shots of the actors in different locations are shown. A medium shot at the beginning denotes a street alley way, surrounded by a road and little houses. We see the location as the actors are small and focused in the middle of the frame. We see a shot inside of a bar or club, it is dark so it is hard to tell the exact location; a long shot is used to denote the background. We see a shot inside of a skate park; this is denoted again by a long shot. We see further shots inside of a cinema, inside of the bedroom, inside of an abandoned warehouse and outside of the shop. A short shot of inside of the van, a medium close up is used to denote this.

Location Shots

The ending shot uses a close up of the couple kissing, it then cuts to the group that robbed the shop throwing money around. The female actor is spinning around within the money using a medium long shot. It then shows the female kissing the male’s belly, it cuts to her jumping onto his waist in a medium close up. It cuts to her passing him a note in the diner and he opens it up, this is shown in a medium close up. The ending shot is a long shot of a male lying with his hands in his head and lying on the floor on his knees, it then fades to black.

Ending Shot