It has been a while since the world has heard the sound of Taylor Swift’s album “Red,” which first came out on October 22, 2012. This album is now back in the spotlight due to the release of the highly anticipated “Taylor’s Version” of the record. Due to issues with her old label and the ownership of her music, Taylor re-recorded the album. As of 2021, she only owns the re-recordings of her two albums, Fearless and Red, while also owning the studio albums Lover, Folklore, and Evermore, since she changed labels. These old albums are filled with more backstories and songs from her youth. Due to the history of these songs, they have also been given more details about her past relationships. The song that led to the excitement of Red was “All Too Well.”

The song was not from the “vault,” as Taylor would say, but had been on the album since its release in 2012. The “Taylor’s Version” of the song spans 10 minutes, which was the original length. The song expresses every feeling Taylor had during her relationship with rumored ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal. Although Taylor can not legally say who the song is truly about, she did not hold back with the signs pointing towards the actor.

Taylor not only released the ten-minute version of the song but also created a short film that premiered the day after the initial album release. This short film stars Sadie Sink, known for her role as Max in “Stranger Things,” and Dylan O’Brien, known for his roles in the “Maze Runner” series and “Teen Wolf.” At first glance, it might seem confusing as to why Taylor would cast a 19-year-old as a love interest for a 30-year-old man. Why would she pick these two in particular? Taylor Swift is not a newcomer to what the music industry calls “easter eggs.” She has mastered the art of hinting at any possible piece of information she can, and that’s exactly what she did for this short film. Taylor Swift was 20 years old when her relationship with almost 30-year-old Jake Gyllenhaal began. By casting these actors, she was able to have the audience understand how problematic their relationship was. The audience’s relationship with the actors also played a huge part, since Sadie is mostly known for her young age and the character from “Stranger Things,” while Dylan is known for his long experience in the industry. 

The short film starts off by showing the soft new beginning, the newness of their relationship. Not even a minute into the film, we see the infamous scarf that has been discussed since 2012. The scarf is meant to represent the innocence and naivety of the young girl. As the short film progresses, it shows the pair acting like a normal couple. It displays the feeling of new love. However, this feeling does not last. When the feeling starts to fade away, it seems like nothing is going well. In the short film, almost 3 minutes in, you can start to see the man lose interest in showing his affection towards the girl. She starts to feel lonely and out of place. Their ten-year age difference starts to become stark. He refuses to acknowledge their relationship, pushing them farther apart. 

In one scene, they have a fight in the kitchen, where she feels upset about his refusal to acknowledge her, and he continues to gaslight her into thinking she’s in the wrong. The audience gets to see the harsh reality behind this problematic relationship. The confusion and sadness of the girl are so raw while her boyfriend continues to treat her as if she doesn’t matter. You see her lose focus on herself just to continue feeling new love. As the scenes progress, you get to see how truly short-lived this relationship was before he lost touch with what they really had.

About 8 minutes into the film, you get to watch the relationship go downhill when he dumps her. She couldn’t believe it, as she thought what they had was real. To him, she was just another thing of the past. You are able to witness the raw feelings of heartbreak the young girl experiences during the breakup process. You also watch her progress from a naive and heartbroken young girl to a strong young woman. She spent the last years of her adolescence with a man who enjoyed her youth. As the film comes to a close, you see her 13 years later as a woman who has grown tremendously from the pain and relationship. Through the film she created and produced, Taylor is able to share her story. 

The point of this short film and its re-release is not out of pure spite or jealousy, as most might think. She’s in her 30’s now, older than Jake Gyllenhaal was when they first got together. She is happily in a relationship and has been able to have the privilege of making sure the art of her younger years isn’t diminished. The point of this short film was to relate to people who have similar experiences and to show that they aren’t alone. People can continue with their lives without being held back by their past. “All Too Well” is about learning from the past mistakes in your love life and understanding that everyone deserves better. The past can’t be redone, but the future is full of potential. The film showcases the miracle of growth.