Finn Wolfhard Brings Quiet Reverence to George Harrison’s Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)
When an official music video was released for George Harrison’s 1973 single Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)—nearly five decades after the song first reached audiences—it could have easily felt like a novelty. Instead, the video arrived as a thoughtful, understated meditation on one of Harrison’s most spiritually open works, guided by the careful hand of director Finn Wolfhard.
Best known to global audiences for his role as Mike Wheeler on Netflix’s Stranger Things, Wolfhard has steadily built a parallel creative life as a filmmaker and musician. His involvement in this project signals not a celebrity crossover, but a continuation of his growing directorial voice—one rooted in restraint, tone, and reverence for legacy.
Rather than reinterpreting Give Me Love through modern visual excess, Wolfhard’s direction leans into atmosphere and emotional texture. The video avoids overt narrative or literal imagery, allowing Harrison’s lyrics to remain the focal point. This choice mirrors the song’s structure itself: a humble prayer rather than a proclamation.
Wolfhard’s visual approach reflects a sensitivity to Harrison’s ethos—spiritual without dogma, reflective without melancholy. The pacing is gentle, the imagery contemplative. It feels less like an attempt to “update” the song and more like an invitation to sit with it. This sensibility aligns closely with Harrison’s post-Beatles identity, where personal spirituality took precedence over public spectacle. In that sense, Wolfhard’s direction functions as stewardship rather than authorship.
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) is not Wolfhard’s first time behind the camera. In 2020, he co-directed the short horror comedy Night Shifts alongside Billy Bryk, which premiered at Fantasia Festival. He has also directed multiple music videos connected to his musical projects, including work for his former band Calpurnia and later The Aubreys. However, this project marks a significant step in scale and cultural weight. Directing an official video tied to George Harrison’s catalog places Wolfhard in direct dialogue with music history—a responsibility he approaches with notable humility.
Wolfhard’s fame as Mike Wheeler—a character defined by emotional sincerity and moral resolve—adds an interesting layer to this project. While the Stranger Things universe is loud, supernatural, and expansive, Wolfhard’s directorial instincts trend in the opposite direction: quiet, inward, and patient. That contrast underscores his seriousness as a filmmaker. Rather than leaning on his celebrity, Wolfhard allows the material to lead. The video never feels like it’s announcing who directed it; instead, it dissolves into the music itself.
One of the most compelling aspects of the video is its ability to act as a bridge between eras, audiences, and artistic disciplines. Harrison’s plea for love and peace feels as relevant today as it did in 1973, and Wolfhard’s involvement introduces the song to a younger generation without reframing its message. The result is a collaboration across time rather than a reinvention. Wolfhard does not impose meaning onto the song; he clears space for it.
In an age where posthumous releases can often feel commercial or disconnected from the artist’s original intent, Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) stands out for its restraint. Finn Wolfhard’s direction honors the song by refusing to overshadow it. The video ultimately reflects the same wish Harrison once sang aloud: less noise, more listening.
Sources
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George Harrison – Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) (Official Music Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0d_P11B6Tg -
Far Out Magazine — Finn Wolfhard directs music video for George Harrison’s “Give Me Love”
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/finn-wolfhard-directs-music-video-george-harrison-give-me-love/ -
Netflix — Stranger Things (Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler)
https://www.netflix.com/title/80057281 -
Fantasia International Film Festival — Night Shifts (2020 short film)
https://fantasiafestival.com
