There's More to eBay's Nostalgic French 'Comeback' Ad Than First Meets the Eye

'Sadvertising' turns funny as retailer reminds French people of its existence

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In recent years big budget TV campaigns have embraced the trend of “sadvertising”—telling audiences emotive stories, typically soundtracked by a twinkling piano score and punctuated with a meaningful message.

Retail marketplace eBay has turned this format on its head in a fresh ad from Paris-based agency Artefact 3000.

“The Camera,” directed by Vincent Lobelle, starts off innocuously enough, showcasing a young girl on a mission to revive her father’s passion for photography after finding out he used to be a keen amateur.

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