"Elektrobank" is a bit of a departure from what you have seen thus far. While Jonze can be known for his dazzling visuals and tricky camerawork, in this music video, the story is front and center. There are no gimmicks here. This video is almost strictly about a young woman trying to put forth the best gymnastic routine possible. And yet, without making anything painfully obvious, we learn so much about her. We see her enthusiastic father and indifferent sister. Later, we see her mother arriving a few minutes late. And in the beginning it's made clear, the person who went before her was amazing. So, from the outset, the girl has been given this enormous amount of pressure to perform well. At the end, despite a serious ankle injury, she continues through the routine and puts on an amazing show. We are given all these little details that clue us in on what's going on in her life, and she's able to put it all aside and make it work. It's a pretty inspiring video and shows just how little is needed in order for a filmmaker to adequately tell a story. All we need is a shot here and a shot there and we know exactly what is happening. The music video stars Sofia Coppola, by the way, who would later go on to become a successful filmmaker in her own right.
