The music video “Crushed” filmed on the front line with real shelling, real killed, and real victims touched the jury of MTV Music Video Awards – 2023. The video is presented by the world-famous band Imagine Dragons. It is unique in many regards and is worthy of attention not only from an artistic point of view.
Filmed on the ruins
The video process continued practically on the front line, in the village of Novohryhorivka, Mykolaiv region of Ukraine. It was under Russian occupation for more than 5 months. The case was really dangerous and difficult. It is a decisive and very risky act for the entire team to go with equipment to such a place where shots can still be heard.
Almost everything in the village has been destroyed: buildings, a hospital, a school, and the people themselves are more like ghosts of lives destroyed by Russian aggression, rather than living persons.
The main character was killed, but not killed
It is incredible that the main role in the music video “Crushed” was played by a real participant in the events – a 14-year-old Ukrainian boy, Sasha. During artillery shelling and bombing from the sky, he and his family hid in a shelter. Their house was also partially destroyed, and their neighbors did not survive the shelling.
That is why the emotions, facial expressions, and moods of the main character are not acting, they are real.
The difficulties were connected with the fact that the boy is a minor, but the family did not stop their son from appearing in the video of Imagine Dragons. This is the only opportunity for them to show millions of viewers in the world what is really happening in Ukraine with thousands of people who lived an ordinary life until February 24, 2022.
Obviously, filming was not easy for the boy, because he does not give official interviews and refuses to communicate with journalists.
In line for the next award
The director of the clip is Ukrainian Tanya Muinho. She managed to work on music videos for such stars as Cardi B, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, and others. She considers this cooperation with Imagine Dragons exceptional due to the extreme conditions and special mission.
It will soon be known whether the music video “Crushed” will receive awards from the MTV Music Video Awards. However, it has found an extraordinary response in the hearts of many people around the world.
