Synopsis

Set in a stark artist's studio, the video follows an elderly woman who appears trapped in emotional and creative exhaustion. One by one, figures emerge from the paintings and memories surrounding her, using intimate, highly physical dance to draw her back into the world. Their encounters gradually transform the studio into a space of movement, sensuality, and confrontation. The apparitions ultimately inspire the artist's final creation: a work centered on her own death.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video's stated concept was a modern, tragic reimagining of the Greek myth of Pygmalion, with an elderly artist being revived by figures from her own creative and emotional past.

• The project began with an independently developed treatment rather than a conventional commission. The production team approached Polica after creating the concept around the song, and the band agreed to the interpretation.

• Choreographer Yemi A.D. created the movement for the performers. The production had only two rehearsals, and the choreography continued changing shortly before filming.

• The limited preparation unexpectedly encouraged improvisation between the choreography, performances, and camera movement. The cinematographer approached the camera as if it were another dancer within the piece.

• A longer director's cut was planned with the choreography shown in full. The official version uses less than half of the footage created for the dance sequences.

• The dancers did not perform to "Wandering Star" during filming. Each principal performer was given a different piece of music to support the intended emotional and improvisational character of that apparition.

• The extended version's third, more menacing apparition was performed to Gui Boratto's remix of Massive Attack's "Paradise Circus."

• Jennifer Nairn-Smith plays the central artist. The Australian dancer and performer had previously appeared on Broadway and in films including "All That Jazz."

• Channy Leaneagh later said that she was not personally fond of the video, even though many viewers responded strongly to it and regularly told her how much they liked it.