The video starts out with an empty room; with typical properties of an airport hanger, typically never left empty. As the male lead of the band (Dave Grohl) takes centre stage, he wraps his hand in bandages (often associated with guitarists) and begins playing. Slowly the band members form their posts around; almost as if they are playing a gig to an empty warehouse.
The colour scheme is strictly black and white for the members of the band, and the monochromatic shades of the hanger makes the bright red backdrop the only real main focus of colour. A policeman in heavily padded uniform makes a stand opposite the band; allocating himself as possible antagonist for the narrative of the music video. As he stands nervously, looking around, the band continue to play whilst staring down the policeman. After a few riffs the lone policeman turns into a whole crowd of police loaded with riot shields. This would normally connote that the band might actually be antagonists, as policeman are often represented as protectors; but when dressed in black, they can often be concieved as threatening.
The shots alternate between a wide shot of the police, and a close up of Dave Grohl's eyes, also with spliced shots of low angled shots of the band; the cross cutting editing adds tension as they quicken. As the song hits a break before the final chorus; the police charge towards the band in slow motion. But as the final chorus starts playing, it returns to full speed whilst the previously mentioned red background explodes towards them. As the band continue to play through the red hurricane, the police are no longer seen; symbolising a possible win for the band.
Overall, the simplicity and subtlety of the narrative made this video memorable as complimenting the song rather than creating a whole new narrative.
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