Ariana Grande has always had a gift for transforming personal heartbreak into art—and her latest project, the enchanting short film Brighter Days Ahead, is no exception. Blending fantasy, raw emotion, and her signature ethereal aesthetic, the 16-minute visual piece serves as both a cathartic exploration of Grande’s past relationships and a hopeful ode to healing. Released as a companion to her upcoming album Eternal Sunshine, the film has sparked intense discussion among fans, who are dissecting its symbolism and autobiographical undertones.
A Surreal Journey Through Love’s Highs and Lows
Directed by Grammy-winning collaborator Hannah Lux Davis, Brighter Days Ahead follows a dreamlike narrative in which Grande plays a version of herself navigating memories of past love. The film opens with her character wandering through a mystical forest where suspended in mid-air are glowing orbs containing fragments of relationships—both romantic and platonic. As she interacts with these floating memories, some bring comfort while others dissolve painfully in her hands.
The most striking sequence shows Grande standing before a massive, fractured mirror, each shard reflecting a different era of her life. One shows her 2018 Sweetener tour aesthetic, another her thank u, next ponytail era, and a third mirrors her current, more subdued look. The imagery suggests an artist reconciling with her many public evolutions—and the personal growth that came with them.
Decoding the Autobiographical Clues
While Grande has always woven her experiences into her music, Brighter Days Ahead feels particularly intimate. Observant fans have noted these likely references to her real-life relationships:
- The Orchid Garden Scene
A tender moment where Grande’s character tends to rare black orchids (a flower she and ex-husband Dalton Gomez reportedly cultivated together during their marriage) before the plants suddenly wither. The scene cuts to her dropping a wedding band into a pool of water. - The “Puzzle Piece” Cameo
In one orb, a distorted figure resembling Pete Davidson appears briefly before the memory fractures—a possible nod to their 2018 whirlwind engagement and very public breakup. - The Astronaut Motif
A recurring image of a stranded astronaut (a callback to her Dangerous Woman era) struggling to remove their helmet, which critics read as a metaphor for Grande’s past struggles with being “trapped” by fame during difficult personal periods.
The Magic of Practical Effects
In an era dominated by CGI, Grande and Davis made a deliberate choice to use old-school filmmaking tricks:
- The floating orbs were actually giant hand-blown glass spheres suspended by nearly invisible wires
- The “disappearing” memories were achieved with carefully timed lighting and retro film dissolve techniques
- The fractal mirror effect was created using 12 identical custom mirrors shattered and rearranged by a team of sculptors
“We wanted it to feel tactile, like you could reach out and touch these memories yourself,” Grande explained in a behind-the-scenes clip.
Fan Theories Running Wild
The Arianator fandom has exploded with interpretations:
- The Numerology Angle
Noticing the film’s runtime is 16:20 (1+6+2+0=9, her lucky number and the date of Eternal Sunshine’s release) - The Wicked Connection
Some believe the emerald-green witchy costume in one scene hints at her upcoming Glinda role - The Hidden Message
When played at 0.75x speed, the background whispers during the mirror scene allegedly reveal lyrics from unreleased album tracks
Critical Reception: More Than Just a Music Video?
Film critics are praising Brighter Days Ahead as Grande’s most mature visual work yet:
“This transcends the typical ‘short film as extended promo’ trend. It’s a legitimate piece of magical realism cinema that would feel at home in a indie film festival lineup” — The Cinematic Observer
“Grande has created something that feels like if Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Secret Garden had a glittery pop music baby” — Visual Culture Mag
What This Means for Eternal Sunshine
The film’s themes suggest the album will explore:
- Radical Acceptance (embracing all past selves)
- Nonlinear Healing (grief not as a straight path)
- Romantic Optimism (the title’s hopeful implication)
Notably absent is any vengeful “breakup anthem” energy—instead, there’s a sense of peaceful resolution.
The Bigger Picture: Grande’s Evolving Artistry
This project continues Grande’s pattern of using multimedia storytelling to deepen her music’s impact:
2018 | Sweetener | Paired with therapeutic “get well soon” visuals
2019 | thank u, next | Accompanied by cult classic-inspired music videos
2024 | Eternal Sunshine | Introduced with this cinematic short film
Industry insiders suggest Brighter Days Ahead might be Chapter 1 of a larger visual album experience.
Where to Watch and What’s Next
The film is currently streaming exclusively on Grande’s website with an ARG-style interactive element—fans who find all 7 hidden constellations in the video unlock exclusive audio snippets.
As for whether these “brighter days” refer to new love (she’s been rumored to be dating Wicked co-star Ethan Slater), creative rebirth, or inner peace, Grande seems content to let the art speak for itself—for now.