Synopsis

A clay heart is subjected to a relentless cycle of damage and repair. It is crushed, torn apart, and otherwise abused, yet repeatedly restored and made whole again. The ordeal continues until the heart is finally buried in the ground. From the place where it comes to rest, a flower emerges, transforming the video's bleak study of emotional injury into a simple image of renewal, survival, and the possibility of love after heartbreak.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was released as part of *Directions: The Plans Video Album* on April 11, 2006. The project paired each song from Death Cab for Cutie's *Plans* with a separate short film.

• *Directions* grew out of an open submission process in which proposals were invited from filmmakers around the world. Twelve finalists received budgets to develop visual interpretations of the album's songs.

• Unlike a conventional band performance video, the clip does not feature Death Cab for Cutie. Its entire visual concept is carried by stop-motion-style clay animation and the changing condition of the heart.

• The heart is depicted as a physical human organ, complete with visible arteries and capillaries, rather than as a symbolic graphic or cartoon shape.

• Its final transformation into a flower gives the video a more hopeful conclusion than the song's breakup-centered lyrics might initially suggest.

• The video received a nomination for Best Animated Video at the MVPA Awards.

• *Directions* was also nominated for Best Long Form Music Video at the 2007 Grammy Awards.