One rarely highlights cinematography and direction when reviewing music videos. But in this case, it is aptly justified.
The cinematographer, guided by the director, is the interpreter of the story – their vision becomes our vision; and the emotions they wish to awaken in us often are born at the very moment they so cleverly intended.
Cinematography in these time-restricted videos is an art of impressions -- giving insight to the story through symbols and expressions, while attempting to evoke just the right emotion to make the connection between eye and heart complete and rewarding. They manipulate atmosphere, pace, motion, angle, lighting, distortion, and color to give a sense of meaning to it all. Such power. Such responsibility. Under the right hands, and behind a visionary eye, the work resonates with the viewer long after the final frame fades. Fatima’s music video for IL DIVO’s "Mama" is such a work!
To highlight the beautiful lyrics of the tribute-like song to mothers, Fatima portrays the members of IL DIVO (David, Urs, Sebastien, and Carlos) in the picturesque Italian village of Tropea, along the southern coast, preparing for and taking part in a funeral procession. Each of the men are seen in a certain light, invoking a touch of the divine in them. Consider their individual vignettes:
David sits in a restaurant. A newspaper doesn’t hold is attention so he turns to his wine glass. He picks it up and plays with it. We sense he could easily lose himself in it, to help get him through his pain. But he returns the glass to the table and leaves to join the procession.
Sebastien stands at the balcony windows of his room looking out over the village. We get the impression that he is waiting and watching for the procession. His characteristic seems to be of the faithful son, who reflects upon and recognizes the love his mother graced him with and her sacrifice–foregoing her dreams so he could fulfill his.
More so, however, Sebastien’s observance of watching for her procession and immediately putting on his tie and suit coat to go join the procession echoes of the faithfulness described in a biblical passage in St. Matthew – a parable describes the various degrees of faithfulness of the ten virgins who waited with their lamps for the wedding procession to come. Some of the virgins watched and were ready. The others slept and were caught off guard. Those who slept and failed to fill their lamps missed the wedding celebration.
Urs is shown being shaved in the barbershop. The cross lays upon his white undershirt. This image impresses on the viewer the importance of cleanliness. The care he takes to be groomed and dressed (and attired with the holy cross) is an honor and an expression of utmost respect for the occasion and the deceased.
Finally, Carlos vignette is most stark, in comparison. And yes, like all of the others, he wears this introspective expression upon his face, even when a beautiful woman dances about him in his bedroom. Before long, he walks away and leaves her sitting alone at the edge of the bed in order to attend the procession. At first, I thought the woman (either his wife or girlfriend or a one-night-stand) was quite insensitive, throwing a mini-tantrum when Carlos doesn’t willingly throw off his clothes and stay with her. But I realized this scene isn’t about her. It is about Carlos. He represents the chaste soul, a man who has his priorities right, who is chaste when chastity is required.
Indeed, Fatima takes this beautiful tribute of mothers and transforms it into a divine hymn about living your life so that heaven (Mother Mary) shines down on you and hell is forced to linger in the shadows of our own complacency, neglect, and idleness.
In a most touching scene, a young boy climbs a stone statue of Mother Mary holding the Christ child. He’s just tall enough that he has to stretch to lay a tender kiss on her cheek. It is at this moment that the film morphs into this underlying religious expression, even a journey. Fatima emphasizes this theme later on in the video with a beautifully effective star-burst that breaks out upon the silver cross that one of the priests in front of the procession carries. Life is a journey onward and upward, he seems to suggest as we follow David, Sebastien, Urs, and Carlos. Look to the cross and live.
Fatima closes the video with the procession reaching a church or mausoleum at the top of a rocky edifice surrounded at three-sides by a picturesque sea. Two children in white-cotton robes, wearing wings upon their back, appear out of nowhere and run in and around the procession. Whether this final refuge represents heaven is not the point, though it would be accurate to say so. Rather, it is in the journey to the entrance of this lofty place that most impresses. The message of developing honorable characteristics, taking the time for introspection, and reflecting upon the promises we may have made to mothers and fathers or even to God or Mother Nature or the human race, is a noteworthy one.
But when it is all said and done, Fatima employs such beautifully symbolic objects and breathtaking landscapes that I dare say the journey he lays out for us has us treading upon sacred ground. It might not be heaven but it sure does look and feel that way.
You can watch the "Mama" music video here.
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