Narcos Director Gerardo Naranjo Takes Interpol on a Whirlwind Journey in New Promo
Interpol's latest music video 'The Rover' was shot on-location in Mexico City in June, during a whirlwind journey where the band announced their new album via a livestreamed press conference – only to be unexpectedly interrupted halfway through by a mysterious figure played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Girls, The Punisher), capturing the attention of fans and media alike. The mystery has finally been revealed with the release of the video directed by Gerardo Naranjo (Narcos, The Bridge) and produced by Believe Media – giving further context to the elusive cult-like character, ‘The Rover’ himself, blurring the line between documentary and fever dream in a heady montage of psychedelic, hedonistic adventures with his young followers, ‘Los Locos,’ in tow, as they ‘rove’ through the pulsing Distrito Federal.
Interpol's Paul Banks says: “I like to describe the video for ‘The Rover’ as a prequel. It’s the origin story of the character described in the song, the birth of a cult leader. When we meet him he is partly unhinged. He’s a man on the verge, an artist subjected to great pressures, and beset with existential frustrations. A distracted hipster who enjoys psychedelics, let’s say.
"The events that take place in Mexico City, be it a bump on the head, a visit to a shaman, or the influence of his rescuers (the street gang known as ‘Los Locos’) trigger the birth – the eruption – of this new figure, ‘The Rover.’ His rescuers become his first followers.
"In the end of the video he exacts his ‘revenge’ on Interpol with a mischievous act of disruption during the press conference. He grabs me by the head – to save me? Forgive me? Or simply as a gesture of his new independence – the butterfly becoming."
Says Gerardo Naranjo: “We agreed the video could be a documentary of that time, Mexico and them. Matador and Interpol were planning a complex broadcast from Mexico to the world via internet. I promised them we would not mess it up. So, when I came in we decided to inject a storyline into the press conference and make it feel like a "happening of sorts" cause we wanted to stay secret. It was technically and logistically a challenge. We cast these kids in CDMX that I am inspired -a group of young Mexican artists chosen as "Los locos": The street gang who adopts THE ROVER while in Mexico. Ebon I know as a great actor but also a hard worker. Also, we are friends. We speak a little about Rasputin and together with Paul we start to create a character. From then on it was just run and shoot the bit of chaos we found on our way. The city took us as it does when you go with a camera and a clear intention. A group of friends was made. I feel very proud of this work we have done."
