Synopsis

Adele returns to a rural house where memories of a past relationship still linger. She calls her former partner, played by Tristan Wilds, and revisits the emotional weight of their separation through old photographs, abandoned rooms, and long stretches of quiet reflection. The video moves between Adele's solitary present and scenes from the couple's happier days, gradually revealing that the call is less about reconciliation than closure. Its final images place both characters in a flooded landscape, where unresolved feelings surface before giving way to acceptance.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video was released on October 22, 2015, one day before the single's official release and ahead of Adele's album "25."

• It was filmed in Quebec over four days in September 2015. The rural setting and muted autumn colors give the video a deliberately intimate, film-like atmosphere.

• Portions were shot with IMAX cameras, making "Hello" the first music video filmed in the IMAX format. The IMAX footage includes the opening close-up of Adele and much of the climactic pond sequence.

• Tristan Wilds plays Adele's former lover. His casting was notable because Adele specifically wanted a Black actor in the role after discussing racial representation and police brutality with the production team.

• The video uses a sepia-toned visual style that emphasizes memory and nostalgia. The old-fashioned flip phone became one of its most discussed details, contrasting with the song's contemporary digital-era release.

• The opening phone conversation and the flashbacks were designed to keep the story emotionally restrained rather than overtly dramatic. Much of the impact comes from pauses, glances, and the physical distance between the two characters.

• "Hello" received more than 27.7 million views during its first 24 hours online, surpassing the previous Vevo record held by Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood."

• The video became the fastest at the time to reach one billion YouTube views, doing so in 87 days. It also earned seven nominations at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.