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John Lewis “The Other Half” 2012

John Lewis “The Other Half” (2012) is a John Lewis commercial directed by Ringan Ledwidge for adam&eve\TBWA, produced by Rattling Stick. It won 5 awards, including British Arrows 2013 Craft Gold — Costume / Wardrobe and Cannes Lions 2013 Film Bronze.

A split-screen narrative follows a woman in the 1920s and a man in the present day, living parallel lives until they finally meet, symbolizing enduring quality.

Video: Rattling Stick on Vimeo

Shot by shot

  1. A young woman with curly hair in a striped dress walks into a vintage attic bedroom, bending down to pick something up from the floor.© John Lewis0:00
  2. A young woman with curly hair, wearing a striped top, holds a hat and walks away in a room with patterned wallpaper.© John Lewis0:05
  3. A young man in his 20s, wearing a white shirt and dark cardigan, looks at his reflection in a mirror, adjusting his clothes in a bathroom.© John Lewis0:09
  4. A split screen shows a street corner, with the left side depicting a 1960s scene and the right side showing a modern-day scene, as people and vehicles pass by.© John Lewis0:17
  5. Two hands, one in a red sleeve and the other in a black sleeve, are shown side-by-side, almost touching.© John Lewis0:31
  6. A split screen shows a woman's legs in vintage heels on the left and a man's legs in brogues on the right, both standing still.© John Lewis0:39
  7. A young woman with curly hair smiles while holding a drink, sitting next to a man in a dimly lit room.© John Lewis0:43
  8. A split screen shows a woman in a vintage dress and a man in a modern sweater, both smiling and looking towards each other, in separate rooms.© John Lewis0:48
  9. A young man sits on the floor, looking at a Samsung tablet, scratching his head, in a dimly lit living room.© John Lewis1:03
  10. A young woman with curly hair, wearing a floral robe, sits at a desk, looking down and then up, in a sunlit room.© John Lewis1:09
  11. A young man in a blue jacket runs past a police officer on a scooter and red recycling bins on a city street.© John Lewis1:13
  12. A split screen shows a woman in 1920s attire walking left and a man in modern clothes walking right, meeting in the middle of a building facade.© John Lewis1:15

Stills © John Lewis. Made by adam&eve\TBWA, Rattling Stick and Ringan Ledwidge.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

Two parallel lives across time, united by shared experiences and enduring quality.

Tagline: “What's important doesn't change. Never Knowingly Undersold since 1925.”

parallel livessplit screentime contrastdestined meetingeveryday momentsromantic connection

The cut

Length
90 s
Shots
39
Average shot
2.3 s

What creatives use John Lewis “The Other Half” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of John Lewis “The Other Half”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    A young woman with curly hair in a striped dress walks into a vintage attic bedroom, bending down to pick something up from the floor.© John LewisA young woman with curly hair, wearing a striped top, holds a hat and walks away in a room with patterned wallpaper.© John LewisA young man in his 20s, wearing a white shirt and dark cardigan, looks at his reflection in a mirror, adjusting his clothes in a bathroom.© John LewisA split screen shows a street corner, with the left side depicting a 1960s scene and the right side showing a modern-day scene, as people and vehicles pass by.© John Lewis
    Frames from John Lewis “The Other Half”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of John Lewis “The Other Half” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A young woman with curly hair in a striped dress walks into a vintage attic bedroom, bending down to pick something up from the floor.© John LewisA young woman with curly hair, wearing a striped top, holds a hat and walks away in a room with patterned wallpaper.© John LewisA young man in his 20s, wearing a white shirt and dark cardigan, looks at his reflection in a mirror, adjusting his clothes in a bathroom.© John LewisA split screen shows a street corner, with the left side depicting a 1960s scene and the right side showing a modern-day scene, as people and vehicles pass by.© John LewisTwo hands, one in a red sleeve and the other in a black sleeve, are shown side-by-side, almost touching.© John LewisA split screen shows a woman's legs in vintage heels on the left and a man's legs in brogues on the right, both standing still.© John Lewis
    Length: 90 s · Shots: 39 · Average shot: 2.3 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a parallel lives

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    John Lewis “The Other Half” is built on a parallel lives. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Coach “Life Has Many Paths”© CoachScrabble “Anagram Lovers”© ScrabbleJim Beam “Parallels”© Jim BeamSpecial Olimpics “Born apart”© Special Olimpics
    Coach · Scrabble · Jim Beam · Special Olimpics

More commercials by Ringan Ledwidge

More from adam&eve\TBWA

  • Harvey Nichols "Shoplifters" (2016) commercial still© Harvey NicholsHarvey Nichols “Shoplifters” 2016Dir. Layzell Bros · adam&eve\TBWACannes Lions Grand Prix 2016
  • John Lewis Financial Services "Tiny Dancer" (2015) commercial still© John Lewis Financial ServicesJohn Lewis Financial Services “Tiny Dancer” 2015Dir. Dougal Wilson · adam&eve\TBWALondon International Awards Grand Prix 2016
  • John Lewis "Monty's Christmas" (2015) commercial still© John LewisJohn Lewis “Monty's Christmas” 2015Dir. Dougal Wilson · adam&eve\TBWACannes Lions Grand Prix 2015
  • Foster's "Good Call" (2014) commercial still© Foster'sFoster's “Good Call” 2014adam&eve\TBWAIPA Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix 2014
  • Puma "I Got High" (2026) commercial still© PumaPuma “I Got High” 2026Dir. Elliott Power · adam&eve\TBWACreative Circle Gold 2026
  • Calm "Missed Birthdays" (2025) commercial still© CalmCalm “Missed Birthdays” 2025adam&eve\TBWAANDY Awards Gold 2025

Award-winning retail commercials

Questions

Who directed the John Lewis “The Other Half” commercial?

Ringan Ledwidge directed it, produced by Rattling Stick, for the agency adam&eve\TBWA.

Which agency made John Lewis “The Other Half”?

adam&eve\TBWA created it for John Lewis (2012).

What awards did John Lewis “The Other Half” win?

5 awards, including British Arrows 2013 Craft Gold — Costume / Wardrobe, British Arrows 2013 Gold — Retail, Cannes Lions 2013 Film Bronze and British Arrows 2013 Silver — Best Over 60 And Up To & Including 90 Second.

What is the tagline of John Lewis “The Other Half”?

“What's important doesn't change. Never Knowingly Undersold since 1925.”

Sources for the credits and awards

en.wikipedia.orgrattlingstick.comshotsbritisharrows.comThe WorkThe Work