All Too Well: The Short Film That Was Nothing Short of a Masterpiece
Taylor Swift, the artist that many of us grew up on, brought us on a trip down memory lane with the re-recording and release of her 2012 album, Red. Red (Taylor’s Version) was released on November 12th, 2021, featuring the old classics of the groundbreaking album and new or extended songs to learn from “The Vault.”
Taylor gave her “Swifties” a surprise to go along with this album in the form of a short film. All Too Well: The Short Film stars Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien. The two play a couple, credited only as Him and Her, and impeccably act out the breakups, breakdowns, and highlights of a toxic relationship mentioned in her song “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylors Version) (From the Vault).”
Sink plays Her, a young girl hopelessly in love with Him (O’Brien) who displays the signs of the classic manipulator. The two are said, but not confirmed, to be portraying Swift's 2010 relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal, assuming that is who the original song is about.
The age gap between Sink and O’Brien is just over 10 years. Watching their intense kissing scenes and the toxic dynamic in the short film seemed so wrong that some viewers just had to look away. However, this gap is fitting as it is a subtle nod to the ages of Swift and Gyllenhaal during their relationship.
Their ages aren't the only reason Sink and O’Brien are ideal for the roles. When Swift and Gyllenhaal’s relationship started, she was at the beginning of her career, having only three albums out. Gyllenhaal was already years into his successful career as an actor. Similarly, Sink has only had a few large acting roles such as Stranger Things while O’Brien has had many big roles in TV shows like Teen Wolf and movies such as The Maze Runner. The film’s setting is reminiscent of autumn days that add to the overall ambiance of the film. The director’s choices also allow the viewer to see a first-hand glimpse of the walls closing in on Her and Him’s relationship.
The opening line “Are you real?” that Her asks Him is the quaint scene that shows Sadie’s characters vulnerable and youthful radiance. From that point forward, Swift's direction with the help of cinematographer Rina Wang broke the short film fittingly into chapters. They were titled "An Upstate Escape,” "The First Crack in The Glass,” "Are You Real?,” "The Breaking Point,” "The Reeling,” "The Remembering," and lastly, "Thirteen Years Gone." Each scene is guided by shifts from hopeful encounters to troubled moments, rather than cutting out which would have dissociated the viewer from their relationship.
The lighting in this film captured the essence of Swift’s heartbreak arguably more than any other aspect. The warm light seen peeking through a glass-stained window in the beginning during the lyrics “I walked through the door with you/The air was cold/But something about it felt like home somehow,” was impactful. The tone of this line paired with the evenfall lighting is soft and warm-hearted. She is seen as an untroubled projection of youth who is visiting His family with the delusion of what can come of this.
In “The First Crack,” the music cuts after dinner with His friends, and a loud silence takes over accompanied by unfriendly, distant lighting. She expresses feeling unappreciated and felt that he was acting differently around his friends. He even dropped her hand at the dinner table. He uses his power to manipulate Her, which causes a shaken look from Sadies character. The music abruptly jumps back in with the title “Are you real?” and the two are seen “dancing 'round the kitchen in the refrigerator light.”
The lighting is noticeably affecting the mood of the short film from then on, bouncing from warm to cold, manifesting the dynamic in a relationship mounded on manipulation. The artistry of this fragment of the short film focuses on Her delusion of youth that we saw in the opening scene when she asks "Are you real?”
“The Breaking Point” is a commemoration of Sink’s acting skills while she is lying on her bed, heartbroken after the inevitable breaking point of the relationship. Her compelling cry takes over the screen with a heart-wrenching flush. She manages to make Her pain appear both clear and messy to the viewer. A perfect act of heartbreak sets the fans on the other end of the screen, right there with Her. This is not to overshadow O’Brien’s acting. The scene where the music cut and the loud silence swept in with O’Brien’s monologue of manipulation had everyone watching feel a compelling hatred towards the man who broke Swift's heart.
Taylor Swift is known for sneaking easter eggs into anything she can, whether to hint at a new release or a past relationship. Quite a handful have arisen with the release of All Too Well: The Short Film.
“And I left my scarf there at your sister's house/And you've still got it in your drawer even now” is one of the first lyrics in “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylors Version) (From the Vault).” The origin of this lyric is that Swift left her scarf at a house during their "upstate escape.” Months down the road there were pictures released of Jake wearing a scarf Swift had previously been pictured wearing. There is no definite confirmation or denial of this story, but Taylor’s fans are holding onto it tight, making demands for Jake to give the scarf back.
In the end of the short film, Swift is seen playing the older version of Her. She is an author at a reading for her book All Too Well. He is standing outside of the reading wearing the scarf we previously saw Her leave at his house. The point is that she is not the only one holding onto her relationship with her book, considering he kept the scarf.
Now for the heftiest topic of discussion around Swift and Gyllenhaal’s relationship, the infamous age gap. In 2010, Swift was 20 years old, falling short of 9 years from Gyllenhaal's age of 29. Certain fans noticed in the scene where Him and Her are gathered at a table with his friends, Her glass of wine stays full. The simple but strategic symbolism in this displays the fact that Swift was not even old enough to drink amongst his friends.
Considering Swifties are far from uneager fans, and often sit impatiently waiting to hear an announcement for Swift's next re-recording, there were some hints towards about which album will be re-released next. Whether it’s the car used in the short film being a 1989 model, representing Swift’s 2014 album 1989, or the deep purple velvet suit she walked into the All Too Well: The Short Film premiere wearing, possibly hinting at her 2010 Speak Now album. “Swifties” are on the edge of their seats anxiously waiting.
Whether Swift means to create these hunts for hints, is inevitably going to stay unanswered. But, it is Taylor Swift and due to her previously masterminding plans, no one is putting it past her.
Swift never fails to provide her best work, whether it be a song or a short film. Between the art of directing, acting, lighting, and the subtle nod to the drama of Swift’s very public relationships, some are calling it an Oscar-worthy short film. Regardless of awards, it is undoubtedly worth praise and applause.
What did you think of All Too Well: The Short Film? Leave a comment below.