"Hightide" is a short, atmospheric music video piece for the song "BETTY," crafted around the theme of friendships and the small, often overlooked elements that shape them—what goes in to make relationships feel alive: shared rituals, unspoken support, private jokes, and everyday choices. The film blends lyrical imagery, candid moments, and a nonlinear narrative to explore how friendship survives distance, change, and the tides of life.
Meta-commentary: The Hightide video went viral precisely because viewers began “throwing” their interpretations into the comments section. BETTY encouraged this by releasing the video with an open-source license. The final line of the manifesto reads: “What goes into the comments… becomes the canon.” -Hightide-Video- BETTY- FRIENDS - WHAT GOES IN ...
Not everyone embraced the Hightide video. Environmental groups criticized the depiction of throwing objects into the ocean (even fictionally), arguing it could inspire real littering. BETTY responded with a statement: “The objects are metaphorical. Do not throw plastic into the sea. Throw your ego.” "Hightide" is a short, atmospheric music video piece
Others called the “mirror chest” ending narcissistic. The Atlantic wrote: “BETTY’s video is a Rorschach test for people who think their friend group is a Greek tragedy.” BETTY encouraged this by releasing the video with
In the video’s final frame, the three friends do not speak. They simply watch the chest. A caption reads: “The hightide does not destroy. It reveals.”
The friends throw physical items into the waves. The film asks: Do we ever truly discard anything? When the chest returns, it proves that the ocean—like friendship—has a memory. What you put into the dynamic (jealousy, secrets, favors) will eventually resurface.