Leonard Cohen - In My Secret Life

What this video is

Released in 2001 as the lead single from Ten New Songs, Cohen's first studio album since 1992's The Future, the video marks a carefully orchestrated cultural re-emergence. Sigismondi's decision to anchor the visual narrative within Habitat 67 — a landmark of 1960s modernist idealism — creates a resonant dialogue between Cohen's Montreal origins, his Jewish heritage, and the utopian architectural aspirations of the…

Why it matters

Stands as a key document in the elevation of the music video from promotional tool to fine-art object, aligning Cohen's literary credibility with Sigismondi's auteurist visual language. The video bridges the gap between 1990s art-house video aesthetics and the restrained prestige productions of…

The director

Italian-Canadian director, photographer, and visual artist born 1965 in Pescara, Italy; raised in Hamilton, Ontario. Trained at Ontario College of Art and Design. Began as fashion photographer before transitioning to music videos via The Revolver Film Co.…