Elephant (2003)
Elephant
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Awarded with the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, 'Elephant' is a movie partially based on the Columbine High School massacre, one of the most infamous and deadly school shootings in US history. Directed by filmmaker Gus Van Sant ('My Own Private Idaho'), 'Elephant' is the second part of his 'Death Trilogy' (comprised of 'Gerry' and 'Last Days'), which marked his return to independent cinema after his commercial forays like 'Good Will Hunting' and the remake of 'Psycho'. In this film, Van Sant returns to the minimalist aesthetic of his early works such as 'Mala Noche' and 'Drugstore Cowboy', with an unusual narrative that portrays the same series of events over and over again, but seen from various perspectives.Thus, the title 'Elephant' derives from the parable of 'The Blind Men and the Elephant', and is a tribute to Alan Clarke's short film of the same name for the BBC, which also explores the issue of school shootings. It is a movie that invites reflection on a serious problem in the United States, approached from different angles and without simplistic answers, achieving a broad and cold portrait of the danger that, in a blink, can end young lives without reason or explanation.
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Plot summary
Winner of the Palme d’Or and Best Director prizes at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. An ordinary day at a typical American high school takes a sudden tragic turn in this unforgettable film from director Gus Van Sant ('Good Will Hunting'). Unfolding via a series of ingeniously time-shifted segments from the points of view of several students, the story follows them through a variety of familiar activities—classwork, hobbies, gossip, socializing—in the hours leading up to a catastrophic act of violence committed by two disturbed youths. With Timothy Bottoms and an ensemble cast consisting primarily of actual high-school teens including Alex Frost, Eric Deulen, John Robinson, Elias McConnell and Jordan Taylor. Written and directed by Gus Van Sant.
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From the same director
Good Will Hunting
This movie's story is amazing in its own right, born in the minds of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon when they were still unknown. Thus came one of the great films of the 1990s, with memorable performances by Damon and Robin Williams in a rich and interesting drama. It's no surprise that 'Good Will Hunting' gave an Oscar to the pair of young screenwriters, in addition to the Best Supporting Actor statue for Williams.
Last Days
Although with different names, this movie is inspired by the last days of life of Kurt Cobain, leader of the acclaimed grunge band Nirvana. But this production is far from being the typical biographical drama of a famous musician. After 'Gerry' and 'Elephant', 'Last Days' is the final part of the so-called 'Death Trilogy', by filmmaker Gus Van Sant (also from the acclaimed 'Boys Don't Cry') and, like its predecessor, he uses a fragmented narrative that addresses the same scenes repeated times from different perspectives, providing an introspective and contemplative approach to the emotional void of its protagonist.
My Own Private Idaho
This is the third feature film from director Gus Van Sant, after "Drugstore Cowboy" and "Mala Noche". Released at the Venice Film Festival in 1991, "My Own Private Idaho" is a must-see reference of the New Queer Cinema of the nineties - and of which Van Sant himself is one of the most prominent authors - with avant-garde aesthetics that authentically portray themes previously considered taboo related to the LGBT community. The film also established River Phoenix (winner of the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for this role) and Keanu Reeves, eventual star of "The Matrix", as promising young actors.
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