PUSSY RIOT’S MESSAGE
Their Brutal Interpretation of "I Can't Breathe"
Pussy Riot‘s music video, “I Can’t Breathe,” showcases a graphic political message about death due to police brutality and state-enforced violence. It’s a story of death led by a chorus that starts with, “it’s getting dark New York City…I need to catch my breath.”
The song ends with a reenactment of the confrontation between the late Eric Garner and New York City police. Richard Hell reads a monologue by Gardner. The line, “I can’t breathe!” is repeated to emphasize death’s pain and injustice, giving a voice to people who have passed at the hands of police.
The audio is also paired with jarring visuals. Masha and Nayda of Pussy Riot wear Russian riot suits to bring attention to global violence. Long pullbacks of the main character and a pack of cigarettes symbolize “Russian Spring,” a term used by those who support Russia’s aggressive militant actions in Ukraine.” The emphasis is on the drama and tension among powerful groups and citizens around the globe. Tasya Krugovyh produces, Gogol Wives directs and Mikhail Vikhrov is the director of photography.
Today, in the hotbed political climate we live in, this kind of message resonates because abuse of power by police exists on all continents. One example is how Ukraine battles with Russia over the seizure of Crimea. There are protests and riots in places that include Kiev’s Independence Square. Pussy Riot continues to bring attention to injustices. They demonstrate the use of art to give voice to the voiceless and contribute to a global discourse on police power and violence.
