The official music video for "Summertime Sadness" is a haunting, vintage-styled visual directed by and Spencer Susser , which premiered in July 2012. Starring Lana Del Rey alongside actress Jaime King , the video tells a tragic story of two lovers who ultimately take their own lives, leaving behind a legacy of "summertime" memories and lingering grief. Storyline and Visual Narrative
: The story reaches a somber end as both women are shown falling in slow motion from a bridge, signifying a double suicide. The Pasadena "Suicide Bridge" serves as a key location for these final moments.
: The narrative follows the relationship between characters played by Del Rey and King. It depicts their happy moments—making faces at the camera, cuddling, and exploring sun-drenched landscapes—interspersed with scenes of profound melancholy and isolation.
The video is a cornerstone of Lana Del Rey's "Old Hollywood" aesthetic, blending 1950s-style fashion with themes of doomed romance.
: Some viewers interpret the scenes of them together in a car as being from a "queer temporality" or occurring after their deaths, with Lana appearing to haunt or exist alongside her lover in a state of eternal transition. Core Themes and Symbolism
The video employs a non-linear, dreamlike structure characterized by grainy, sepia-toned film effects and Instagram-style filters popular at the time.
The official music video for "Summertime Sadness" is a haunting, vintage-styled visual directed by and Spencer Susser , which premiered in July 2012. Starring Lana Del Rey alongside actress Jaime King , the video tells a tragic story of two lovers who ultimately take their own lives, leaving behind a legacy of "summertime" memories and lingering grief. Storyline and Visual Narrative
: The story reaches a somber end as both women are shown falling in slow motion from a bridge, signifying a double suicide. The Pasadena "Suicide Bridge" serves as a key location for these final moments. lana_del_rey_summertime_sadness_official_music_...
: The narrative follows the relationship between characters played by Del Rey and King. It depicts their happy moments—making faces at the camera, cuddling, and exploring sun-drenched landscapes—interspersed with scenes of profound melancholy and isolation. The official music video for "Summertime Sadness" is
The video is a cornerstone of Lana Del Rey's "Old Hollywood" aesthetic, blending 1950s-style fashion with themes of doomed romance. The Pasadena "Suicide Bridge" serves as a key
: Some viewers interpret the scenes of them together in a car as being from a "queer temporality" or occurring after their deaths, with Lana appearing to haunt or exist alongside her lover in a state of eternal transition. Core Themes and Symbolism
The video employs a non-linear, dreamlike structure characterized by grainy, sepia-toned film effects and Instagram-style filters popular at the time.