I was channel surfing, and happened upon an advertising review show. They featured a British ad for Orange (a mobile phone company) that really caught my attention:
http://www.ephinx.com/tvadverts/external/129/orange-harmonious-dance-advert.swf
It’s pretty rare that I find a TV commercial beautiful, but this definitely qualifies.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
Agreed, that was genuinely lovely. Thanks for posting it!
Very nice – I hope they find help for their spontaneous dancing affliction.
You’re right, it is a beautiful mini movie. I don’t know what it has to do with a mobile phone company, but I like it. And it rewards repeated viewings.
I wonder if glossy, expensive ads like these aren’t as much for the existing customers of a brand, to make them feel good about their decision.
This is cute, but you’ll have to trust me: when I saw the words “beautiful British ad” I immediately thought “oh. It will be something all in grey tones.”
And lo, so it was.
James: funny you should call this ad “glossy, expensive.” First of all, I’ll bet that thing was dirt-cheap by ad standards: no (or few; for all I know they cheated the sky to make it look nice. That’s almost as common as colour timing in pro video these days) effects shots, some choreography that I’m betting was grade-school stuff for the performers (she didn’t even have to do it in toe shoes…), and one well-coordinated take.
In and out, one day of shooting. But oh so quiet and tony.
Don’t get me wrong: I liked it too. Stuff like this cuts through the “Head-On!” ads by being different, and it did look pretty. And soothing.
Lovely. What’s the product? I’ll buy it.
Monique: Orange is a mobile phone service provider in the UK. Think Rogers Wireless. They’re selling people on the idea of staying with Orange mobile.
And to be more precise, while I said “grey tones” above, it would probably be more precise to call the look “desaturated.”