Lana Del Rey Is a Wife, Mother, First Lady Jackie O in ‘National Anthem’ Video

Lana Del Rey's video for 'National Anthem,' in which she plays wife, mother and First Lady Jackie O, is certainly cinematic. It feels like a film and it's dramatic.

The clip starts out with LDR as Marilyn Monroe, singing 'Happy Birthday' to JFK at a podium. That's a famous moment from American history, which caused tongues to wag in speculation that the two were engaged in a torrid affair.

The scene cuts to the fateful day in Dallas when JFK, played by A$AP Rocky, was shot in the head. LDR is now portraying Jackie O. They are touching each other affectionately in the motorcade.

So what is she saying? Marilyn and Jackie are one in the same? The leap is not quite clear.

Most of the video focuses on the idyllic, loving relationship between the couple. They are frolicking in the grass with their kids and are very tactile, touching each other's arms and knees, feeding one another and generally being unable to keep their hands off one another. They are a couple in love, despite being Jackie O and JFK with plenty of responsibilities on their backs.

It's the portrait of an American family, with LDR looking fit in her tight sweaters and A$AP Rocky mackin' and blingin' with gold chains. All that touching shows a couple in love, despite the rumors of the Marilyn Monroe affair and his high-stress life as the leader of the free world. It's sorta touching... when they are touching.

While the narrative is one of those things that make you go 'Hmmm,' the vid has a fuzzy, Super 8 pallor and it looks like home movies cut in the '60s.

But in terms of plot? You're on your own with this one, so try to get from thematic point A to B by watching it a few times.

The clip ends with a voiceover as scenes of the motorcade murder and family life are spliced together. There's a gunshot, chaos and LDR-as-Jackie-O with a broken heart, as more scenes from their life together are interspersed.

We must give credit where it's due. Lana is a pretty good actress. She has expressive eyes and uses them to effect here.

Watch the Lana Del Rey 'National Anthem' Video