Quebec’s Xavier Dolan directs Elton John’s latest ‘anthem for LGBTQ+ youth’

Xavier Dolan poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film 'Jeanne du Barry' at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

Famed British singer-songwriter Elton John is a few weeks away from releasing a new album in collaboration with Brandi Carlile. They paired up with none other than Quebec director Xavier Dolan to bring the music to life.

Instead of showcasing the musicians, the new video for “Swing For The Fences” shows a young man plugging in his headphones, dancing around his trashed apartment, and flirting with the boy shoveling snow next door.

On his YouTube channel, John called the song a “a life-affirming, joyous track and an anthem for LGBTQ+ youth.”

Along with choreographer Damien Jalet — who worked on the critically-acclaimed Emilia Perez and Suspiria — and dancers William Darby and Abdalla Amour, Dolan created “a dynamic and emotional exploration of sensuality and liberation.”

Dolan took to social media to explain that the music video is a deeply personal work, especially in this charged political climate.

“Music and dancing have always been central to queer culture, they are an ultimate act of expression, abandonment, selflessness,” he wrote on Instagram.

He said he still feels shame regarding his sexuality and relationship to masculinity — “or lack thereof” — but always includes scenes where his characters dance as he wishes for them the “purest form of freedom.”

“I hope this story finds young queer people, and any queer people, and any person in search of freedom,” Dolan wrote.

“May this be an unequivocal reminder that, in spite of the blatant aggression our communities currently endure, in spite of the invitation to hate, alienate, intimidate, and exclude, we remain strong if we don’t bow down to ignorance and abuse.”

Dolan previously directed Adele’s “Hello” and “Easy On Me” music videos, with the latter filmed in Sutton, Que., as well as Moderat’s “A New Error.”

John and Carlile’s album “Who Believes in Angels?” is releasing April 4.