Released in 1991, the music video for is a bleak, monochromatic exploration of childhood trauma and the loss of innocence. Directed by Matt Mahurin , the video is renowned for its cinematic, surrealist style that departs from traditional heavy metal imagery to mirror the song's deeply personal themes. Visual Narrative and Concept
: As the video progresses, the boy ages into an adult and eventually an old man, symbolizing a life wasted by conforming to others' expectations. Metallica: The Unforgiven (Official Music Video)
: There is a longer, "theatrical" version of the video that includes more narrative footage of the character's struggle. Released in 1991, the music video for is
The video tells a metaphorical story centered on a boy born into captivity who spends his entire existence in a windowless stone room. : There is a longer, "theatrical" version of
: Fans and archivists have since produced 4K UHD versions of the video to preserve Mahurin's grainy, high-contrast visual style.
The video was one of the first to showcase Metallica's "ballad" style with a heavy verse and soft chorus—a reversal of their previous musical patterns.