All Too Well: The Short Film
All Too Well: The Short Film is a 2021 romantic drama short film written and directed by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift in her filmmaking debut. A film adaptation of her critically-acclaimed song "All Too Well" (2012), it is set against the backdrop of the uncut, 10-minute version of the song released in 2021. It stars Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien as a romantic couple whose up-and-down relationship ultimately falls apart, compounded by their age gap. Swift cited the works of Barbara Stanwyck, John Cassavetes, and Noah Baumbach as artistic influences upon her film.
All Too Well: The Short Film
Taylor Swift
"All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From the Vault)"
by Taylor Swift
- Taylor Swift
- Saul Germaine
- Sadie Sink
- Dylan O'Brien
- Taylor Swift
Rina Yang
Ted Guard
- Taylor Swift Productions
- Saul Projects
- PolyGram Entertainment and Republic Records
(YouTube) - Universal Pictures (Theatrical)
- November 12, 2021
15 minutes
United States
English
Produced by Saul Projects and Taylor Swift Productions, All Too Well: The Short Film was released on November 12, 2021, in select theaters by Universal Pictures and on YouTube by UMG's PolyGram Entertainment and Republic Records, in conjunction with Swift's second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version). After a premiere at the AMC Theatres in Lincoln Square, New York City, it had a limited theatrical release in major cities as well as special screenings at the 2022 Tribeca and Toronto film festivals. It received critical acclaim, with particular praise directed towards Swift's direction as a debut filmmaker as well as the acting, script, drama, and production values.
The film garnered several awards and nominations from music and film organizations, including an American Music Award, a Grammy Award, a Hollywood Critics Association Award and an Art Directors Guild Award; at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, it won Video of the Year and Best Direction, making Swift the first act in VMA history to win Best Direction for a self-directed work.
Synopsis[edit]
All Too Well: The Short Film is a film adaptation of the 10-minute version of the song "All Too Well" by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.[1] It also functions as a music video for the song.[2] A literary quote from the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda—"Love is so short, forgetting is so long", from his poem "Puedo Escribir Los Versos"—opens the film.[note 1] The story chronicles the relationship of two doomed lovers, Her and Him, compounded by an age gap.[4] "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" plays throughout the film, except during a dialogued conflict between Her and Him.[5] The song details a blooming romance between two people, and its subsequent dissolution and resulting heartbreak.[6] The nearly 15-minute film is divided into seven chapters—"An Upstate Escape", "The First Crack in the Glass", "Are You Real?", "The Breaking Point", "The Reeling", "The Remembering", and the epilogue "Thirteen Years Gone"—describing the relationship between Her and Him through various phases.[7]
Release and promotion[edit]
In June 2021, Swift announced that her re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version), a re-recording of her fourth studio album Red (2012), would be released on November 19, 2021; the release date was later moved up to November 12.[22] It contains both the re-recorded version of the track "All Too Well" and its 10-minute uncut version as a bonus track "from the vault".[23][24] On November 5, 2021, Good Morning America revealed a teaser for the short film.[25][26] The teaser featured a vintage car driving down on a quiet road surrounded by autumnal trees, as well as the names of the cast members.[11] All Too Well: The Short Film is a dramatized account of the incidents and dynamics of the relationship described in the song.[27] It is about "an effervescent, curious young woman who ends up completely out of her depth", stated Swift.[28] She described it as an expression of her gratitude to her fans for their reception to the song "All Too Well" over the years.[29]
The film's world premiere took place on November 12 at the AMC Theatres in Lincoln Square, New York City[30] with handpicked fans among those who attended.[27] Each audience member received an autographed movie poster and a custom packet of tissues.[31] Swift performed "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" in the theatre after the screening.[32] The film was later released on the same day on YouTube, 19 hours after the album's release at midnight.[33] It had a limited theatrical release in major cities.[34]
It was also screened in two film festivals. On June 11, 2022, All Too Well: The Short Film had a special screening at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.[35] The film was screened in its 35 mm form for the first time at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2022, at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, Ontario.[15]
A video of behind the scenes from the short film was released on December 8, 2022.[36]
Reception[edit]
Commercial performance[edit]
Following its release to YouTube, the film was the number-one trending video on the platform with over 14 million views.[12] It amassed 32 million views in its first three days.[37] The short film helped its source material, "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)", debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart, garnering Swift her eighth number-one song in the US, and the longest song ever to top the chart—a feat recognized in Guinness World Records.[38] As of December 2023, the film has 94 million views on YouTube.[39]