Cardigan

littlerhymes pointed out that Taylor Swift directed her latest music video, “Cardigan,” which of course means that it’s now a part of my women film directors project. This particular music video is not actually very high on narrative content (Taylor plays an upright piano, only to lift the piano’s lid and climb through Wonderland-style into a series of magical worlds, including one where a waterfall cascades from the piano), but nonetheless watching it made me think that Swift would make a kickass film director.

Not only do many of her songs have a strong narrative throughline (“The Last Great American Dynasty” and “Betty” are two examples from Folklore), but her videos, albums, and tours are chock full of striking visual images. She would bring that skill as a storyteller and power visual sensibility to her movies.

The one caveat is that I haven’t been too impressed by her non-music-video acting (she had a bit part in New Girl, for instance), so this hypothetical movie would probably work better if she stayed purely behind the camera - or perhaps gave herself a cameo as, say, a nightclub singer. (Take that, Alfred Hitchcock!)

… Also I would die for a feature-length movie version of “Betty,” particularly if the narrator (who is supposedly a guy named James, but come on, it’s Taylor singing!) was a skateboarding girl who had a massive crush on her classmate Betty, particularly if it’s all shot like an old school TSwift music video, “You Belong with Me” era. The DRAMA of the moment when our skateboarding girl sees Betty dancing with him (this nameless dude rival) on the other side of the gym. The EPIC FEELS when she shows up on Betty’s porch (during a party, no less!) to explain how it all went wrong! The MUSIC SWELLING as Betty kisses her on the porch. (Obviously the movie version has to end on this triumphal note, although tbh I can also see why Betty would just slam the door in “James’s” face.)

I’m seeing the original song playing over the end credits, but I could absolutely be sold on having it reappear as a motif at key points in the movie, only to finally swell into full audibility during the kiss.