Synopsis
In a cramped basement, Channy Leaneagh appears as both captive and tormentor in a relentless cycle of violence. One version of her is restrained, beaten, waterboarded, and subjected to other brutal punishments, while another methodically carries them out. The video's narrow frame and stripped-down setting intensify the sense of confinement, making the performance feel less like a conventional narrative than a psychological portrait of self-destruction. As POLICA and Justin Vernon's haunted collaboration plays, the divided woman becomes trapped inside her own worst impulses.
Factoids & Trivia
- Channy Leaneagh described the video as "a portrait of a woman as her own worst enemy."
- The production uses an unusually narrow aspect ratio, making the basement feel even more claustrophobic and heightening the impact of the violence.
- Leaneagh plays both sides of the torture sequence, creating a visual split between victimhood and self-inflicted punishment.
- The video premiered on June 11, 2013, ahead of POLICA's second album, "Shulamith."
- "Tiff" was the first single from "Shulamith" and features Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.
- Leaneagh said the shoot was physically and emotionally demanding, but that the filmmakers helped her become absorbed in the character and push through her exhaustion.
- The video's graphic content drew considerable attention on its release, with contemporary coverage emphasizing its clinical presentation rather than treating the violence as simple shock value.