Michel Gondry - A Director Case Study

Michel Gondry


Michel Gondry has directed many music videos and now feature films, as well as short movies and commercials. Recent work includes Be Kind, Rewind (2008) and The Green Hornet (2011).


He has won hundreds of awards for his work; he sets the benchmark for creativity in terms of music video direction, and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the commerical director with the most awards.


To name a few music videos out of his huge (and i mean seriously huge) filmography:


Around The World - Daft Punk





Mia Doi Todd - Open Your Heart





Everlong - Foo Fighters
Gimme Shelter- The Rolling Stones
Mad World - Gary Jules
Hyper Ballad - Bjork


Michael Gondry is particularly known for his surreal music videos and interesting choices of visual style in his videos. The two i have chosen are two which show off some of the techniques he uses in his videos; using human actors as a visual representation of the music as apposed to characters in a story.


The video for 'Around the World' perfectly encompasses Michael Gondry's surreal style; the different groups of actors in different costumes represent a different layer of the song. The guys with the prosthetic heads on are the bass line, the skeletons are the guitar riff, and the robots are the vocals. All the cast are dancing on a large record, while a trippy light show plays in the background. The different levels on the record represent the pitch of the notes as well.

A still from 'Around the World'

The video for Open Your Heart also uses many of the surreal elements which have made Michel Gondry so recognised as a music video director. All the cast are wearing brightly coloured shirts with a different colour on each side. Most of the shots involve large crowds and synchronised movement sequences assorted by their different colours; making for a visually fantastic video, the clever choreography and use of colour being particular highlights.

Still from 'Open your Heart'

This video is similar to 'Around the World' in that it uses a group of actors to represent an overall motif or theme; they become a living breathing entity as one, not seperate individuals. It is surreal as it places all these brightly coloured actors into a normal city as opposed to the fictional environment in 'Around the World'.


Michel Gondry is a successful and acclaimed director and i have learnt how surrealism can be used to great effect in a video; whether very obviously surreal like in 'Around the World' or slightly more realistic as in 'Open your Heart'; both these videos are a visual treat and very unique.