Synopsis

Two men share a quiet, emotionally charged encounter shaped by hesitation and unspoken affection. The video places them in intimate domestic and outdoor settings, allowing small gestures, glances, and moments of physical closeness to carry the narrative. Rather than following a conventional plot, it develops as a tender portrait of connection and uncertainty, reflecting the song's difficulty in expressing love directly. The restrained performances and gentle pacing give the piece a wistful, short-film quality.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video features actors Barak Hardley and Tom Livemore, with cinematography by E. Gustavo Petersen.

• "Futile Devices" appears as the opening track on Sufjan Stevens' 2010 album "The Age of Adz." Its brief, understated arrangement contrasts with the album's more electronic and experimental material.

• The song was released on October 12, 2010, while the music video surfaced online around the same period through Vimeo.

• The video's intimate two-character focus mirrors the song's central tension: affection is deeply felt but difficult to express in direct language.

• A separate Doveman remix later brought "Futile Devices" to a much wider audience through Luca Guadagnino's 2017 film "Call Me by Your Name." It should not be confused with the original album version used in this video.

• The song also received a Shigeto remix in 2012 and was covered by Sister Crayon, later known as Rituals of Mine.