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{{Short description|2003 drama film directed by Gus Van Sant}}
{{Infobox Film
{{Infobox film
| name = Elephant
| name = Elephant
| image = Elephant movie poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| image = Elephant movie poster.jpg
| alt =
| director = [[Gus Van Sant]]
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| producer = [[Diane Keaton]]
| writer = [[Gus Van Sant]]
| director = [[Gus Van Sant]]
| producer = Dany Wolf
| starring = [[Alex Frost]]<br>[[Eric Deulen]]<br>[[John Robinson (American actor)|John Robinson]]<br>[[Elias McConnell]]
| writer = Gus Van Sant
| starring = [[Alex Frost]]<br>Eric Deulen<br>[[John Robinson (American actor)|John Robinson]]
| cinematography = [[Harris Savides]]
| cinematography = [[Harris Savides]]
| editing = [[Gus Van Sant]]
| based_on =
| editing = Gus Van Sant
| distributor = [[HBO Films]]<br>[[Fine Line Features]]
| studio = Meno Film Company
| released = [[October 24]], [[2003 in film|2003]]
| distributor = [[Fine Line Features]]<br />[[HBO Films]]
| runtime = 81 min.
| released = {{Film date|2003|5||[[2003 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes]]|2003|10|24|United States}}
| country = {{flagicon|USA}}
| runtime = 81 minutes
| language = [[English language|English]]<br>[[German language|German]]
| country = United States
| budget = $3 million
| language = English
| gross = $10,020,543
| budget = $3 million<ref name="numbers">{{cite web |title=Elephant |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Elephant#tab=summary |website=The Numbers |access-date=10 October 2022}}</ref>
| website = http://www.elephantmovie.com/
| gross = $10 million<ref name="boxofficemojo.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=elephant.htm |title=Elephant |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=[[Box Office Mojo]] }}</ref>
| amg_id = 1:285911
| imdb_id = 0363589
}}
}}


'''''Elephant''''' is a [[2003 in film|2003]] [[crime film|crime]]-[[drama film]] written and directed by [[Gus Van Sant]]. It is set on the day of a massive [[school shooting]]. The film takes place a short time before the shooting occurs, following several characters as they live out their school lives, unaware of what is about to unfold. The film stars mostly new or non-professional actors, including [[John Robinson (American actor)|John Robinson]], [[Alex Frost]] and [[Eric Deulen]].
'''''Elephant''''' is a 2003 American [[Psychological drama|psychological drama film]] written, directed and edited by [[Gus Van Sant]]. It takes place in Watt High School, in the suburbs of [[Portland, Oregon]], and chronicles the events surrounding a [[school shooting]], based in part on the 1999 [[Columbine High School massacre]]. The film begins a short time before the shooting occurs, following the lives of several characters both in and out of school, who are unaware of what is about to unfold. The film stars mostly new actors, including [[John Robinson (American actor)|John Robinson]], [[Alex Frost]], and Eric Deulen.


This is the second movie in Gus Van Sant's Death Trilogy - the first is ''[[Gerry (movie)|Gerry]]'' and the third ''[[Last Days (film)|Last Days]]''; all three are based on actual events. ''Elephant'' takes place in the fictional Watt [[High School]], in the suburbs of [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]], and chronicles the events surrounding a fictional school shooting, based in part on the [[1999]] [[Columbine High School Massacre]] although the end of the film stresses the "similarities to actual events are purely coincidental" disclaimer.
''Elephant'' is the second film in Van Sant's "[[Gus Van Sant#Death Trilogy|Death Trilogy]]"—the first is ''[[Gerry (2002 film)|Gerry]]'' (2002) and the third ''[[Last Days (2005 film)|Last Days]]'' (2005)—all three of which are based on actual events.


Although ''Elephant'' was controversial for its subject matter and allegations of influence on the [[Red Lake shootings]], it was generally praised by critics and received the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[2003 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmziMiTcVek The Indie Filmmaking Genius of Gus Van Sant | The VICE Guide To Film - VICE on YouTube].</ref>
The film was generally acclaimed by critics, and received the prestigious 2003 [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[Festival de Cannes]]. As the first high-profile movie to address high school shootings since Columbine, the film was controversial for its subject matter and possible influence on teenaged [[Copycat effect|copy-cats]]. ''Elephant'' received an [[MPAA film rating system|R]] rating from the [[Motion Picture Association of America|MPAA]].
{{Columbine High School massacre}}


==Plot==
==Plot==
At the start of the film, John McFarland is driven to school by his father, who is driving erratically down the road. Noticing the damage done to the car, John realizes that his father is drunk and makes him move to the passenger seat so he can drive. When John arrives at school late, he is reprimanded by the principal, Mr. Luce.
The film opens with Mr. McFarland ([[Timothy Bottoms]]) driving erratically down a residential street with his son John ([[John Robinson (american actor)|John Robinson]]) in the passenger seat. It becomes apparent that Mr. McFarland is [[drunkenness|intoxicated]] as John instructs him to pull over and let him drive. They arrive at John's high school, where he refuses to give his father the car keys and ends up leaving them in the school office for his brother to collect.


The majority of the film is spent following several high school students going about their daily lives just before a school shooting. In addition to John, who struggles with controlling his alcoholic father, photography student Elias builds a portfolio of other students. Outcast Michelle struggles with her body issues and assists in the library. Bulimics Nicole, Brittany, and Jordan gripe about their parents and squabble while popular athlete and lifeguard Nathan meets with his girlfriend, Carrie. Acadia, a close friend of John's, attends a [[Gay-Straight Alliance]] meeting.
The camera follows other students as they walk down the hallways, talk to friends and go to class. Many characters are shown in long [[tracking shot]]s that do not turn away. Alex ([[Alex Frost]]) and Eric ([[Eric Deulen]]) are shown being constantly picked on at school by the [[Jock (subculture)|jocks]], several of whom throw spitballs at Alex during science class. Later, Alex and Eric are shown at home ordering weapons from a website and receiving an [[assault rifle]] in the mail. The two are later shown formulating an attack plan. The next day, Alex and Eric kiss in the shower (for the stated reason that they have never kissed someone) before making their way to the school in silence.


Unknown to anyone, two other students, Alex and Eric, are preparing to carry out a bomb/shooting attack on their school. Flashbacks throughout the film show them preparing for the massacre by ordering weapons online and formulating an attack plan. The two have a brief sexual encounter in the shower after they both admit that they've never kissed anyone before. Their motives for the shooting appear vague; the film provides evidence suggesting bullying, neglect, violent video games, and [[Nazism]].
After arriving at school, Alex and Eric encounter John outside and warn him to run away. Realizing what is about to happen, John attempts to warn others not to enter the school, to little effect. The two boys then enter the school and after their plans to blow up parts of the school with [[Improvised explosive device|propane bombs]] fail, begin [[spree killer|shooting indiscriminately]]. Elias ([[Elias McConnell]]) photographs them entering the library where they open fire, shooting several students, including Michelle and presumably Elias. Realizing that the gunfire is real, students now begin to panic, while teachers attempt to quickly evacuate everyone. The two boys separate, continuing their killing spree. Alex enters the bathroom where Brittany, Jordan, and Nicole are, presumably shooting all three. Benny approaches Eric but is shot with Eric's [[Intratec TEC-DC9|TEC-9]]. Mr. Luce pleads to Eric to spare his life, and Eric initially agrees to let him go, but guns him down seconds later.


On the day of the shooting, the pair makes their way to school in Alex's car. Alex is armed with a [[Carbon 15|Carbon-15]] and a shotgun while Eric has a [[TEC-9]]. As they enter the school, they encounter John, and Alex tells him to leave. Realizing what is about to happen, John tries to warn students and teachers outside not to go into the school, but few people listen. He then notices his dad is missing after they arrived earlier and goes looking for him.
Alex enters the cafeteria and sits down (where he has apparently already opened fire, as a body can be seen in the background). Eric meets up with him, and they have a brief conversation, after which Alex shoots Eric in mid-sentence. Alex then leaves the cafeteria, showing no emotion over shooting Eric, and discovers Carrie and Nathan in a freezer. He tauntingly recites [[Eeny, meeny, miny, moe]] to them to decide whom he should kill first. The film then ends without resolution; the last shot of the film is similar to the opening, a cloudy blue sky.


Alex and Eric plant propane bombs in the cafeteria, hoping to blow it up and shoot people as they try to escape the fire. When the bombs fail, they decide to start [[Spree killing|shooting indiscriminately]]. The pair heads into the library, where Elias photographs them right before they open fire on students. Michelle is killed, while Elias' fate is left unclear. Other students quickly realize that the gunfire is real and begin to panic, and teachers begin evacuating students.
==Cast of characters==

*[[Alex Frost]] as Alex, a cold, calculating, and ruthless teenager harassed by jocks, accomplished but frustrated [[Piano|pianist]] and sketch artist.
Alex and Eric split up to opposing ends of the school to continue their shooting. Alex enters the girls' bathroom where he surprises Jordan, Nicole, and Brittany, presumably shooting all three. A student attending the Gay-Straight Alliance meeting enters the hallway investigating the gunfire and is shot dead. The alliance members evacuate through a window save for Acadia, who freezes at the sight of her dead classmate. Benny, an African-American student-athlete, finds her and helps her out the window before deciding to find the shooters.
*[[Eric Deulen]] as Eric, a [[slacker]], Alex's friend, and the other killer. He is much less intelligent than Alex, and Alex is obviously aware of this. Eric is shot and killed by Alex.

*[[John Robinson (American actor)|John Robinson]] as John McFarland, Alex's friend who has trouble at school while managing his [[alcoholic]] father.
Outside the school, John finds his now sobered-up father, who tries to comfort his son as the shooting continues. While helping students escape, Mr. Luce is cornered and threatened by Eric, prompting Mr. Luce to try and reason with him. Benny walks up behind Eric, and Eric abruptly turns around and shoots Benny dead. Eric tells Mr. Luce not to treat kids like him and Alex poorly. He then lets Mr. Luce go, only to gun him down seconds later.
*[[Timothy Bottoms]] as Mr. McFarland, John's alcoholic father.

*[[Matt Malloy]] as Mr. Luce, the [[principal]] of the school. Cornered by Eric, who falsely spares him, he is presumed dead after shot several times.
Alex enters the cafeteria, which is strewn with overturned chairs, backpacks, several dead bodies, and numerous abandoned half-eaten lunches, and sits down. Alex picks up a cup from an abandoned lunch and casually drinks from it. Eric meets up with him, and they have a brief conversation about who they've shot, which ends when Alex shoots Eric mid-sentence. Alex leaves the cafeteria, showing no emotion over killing Eric, and discovers Carrie and Nathan hiding in a freezer. He tauntingly recites "[[Eeny, meeny, miny, moe]]" to them to decide whom he should kill first. The film then cuts to the credits, leaving the ending ambiguous.
*[[Elias McConnell]] as Elias, an aspiring [[photography]] student building his portfolio with portraits of other students. Although not shown, presumed shot and killed by Alex in the library.

*[[Nathan Tyson]] and [[Carrie Finklea]] as Nathan and Carrie, a popular [[lifeguard]]/[[American football|American football player]] and his girlfriend. Both, or one shot and probably killed when Alex corners them in the Cafeteria meat locker, Alex taunts [[Eeny, meeny, miny, moe]] and it is unknown which one he shot, or if the other survived.
==Cast==
*[[Kristen Hicks]] as Michelle, a [[nerdy]] girl ashamed of her body, the film follows her through the locker room and into the [[library]] where she assists. She is the first to die during the shooting.
* [[Alex Frost]] as Alex, the more intelligent of the two killers, implied to be the one in charge. He is an accomplished but frustrated [[Piano|pianist]] and sketch artist.
*[[Brittany Mountain]], [[Jordan Taylor]], and [[Nicole George]] as Brittany, Jordan, and Nicole, three [[bulimia nervosa|bulimic]] teenage girls who talk incessantly, gripe about parents, and squabble with one another. All presumed shot and killed by Alex.
* Eric Deulen as Eric, a [[slacker]], Alex's friend, and the other killer. He is less intelligent than Alex, and Alex is obviously aware of this. He is shot in the chest by Alex near the end of the film, while talking about whom he had killed earlier.
*[[Alicia Miles]] as Acadia, a close friend of John's and a member of the [[Gay-Straight Alliance]]. she successfully escapes from the school and the shooters.
* [[John Robinson (American actor)|John Robinson]] as John McFarland, Alex's friend who has trouble at school while managing his [[alcoholic]] father. Alex warns him and a few other people to stay away from the massacre.
*[[Bennie Dixon]] as Benny, an athletic student who helps Acadia escape out of a window before approaching Eric. He is shot and presumed dead after trying to help Mr. Luce.
* [[Timothy Bottoms]] as Mr. McFarland, John's alcoholic father.
* [[Matt Malloy]] as Mr. Luce, the [[Principal (school)|principal]] of the school. Cornered by Eric, who briefly spares him, he is presumed dead after being shot several times.
* [[Elias McConnell]] as Elias, a [[photography]] student building his portfolio with portraits of other students.
* Nathan Tyson and Carrie Finklea as Nathan and Carrie, a popular [[lifeguard]]/[[American football|football player]] and his girlfriend. Alex taunts them with [[Eeny, meeny, miny, moe]].
* Kristen Hicks as Michelle, a [[nerdy]] girl ashamed of her body. The film follows her through the locker room and into the [[library]] where she assists, and it is there that she is the first to die in the massacre.
* Brittany Mountain, Jordan Taylor, and Nicole George as Brittany, Jordan, and Nicole, three [[Bulimia nervosa|bulimic]] girls who talk incessantly, gripe about parents, and squabble with one another.
* Bennie Dixon as Benny, an athletic student who helps Acadia escape out of a window before approaching Eric. He is shot and presumed dead.
* Alicia Miles as Acadia, a close friend of John and a member of the [[Gay-Straight Alliance]]. During the shooting, Benny discovers her standing still in a classroom and helps her escape from the school and the shooters.


==Production==
==Production==
[[File:Blind men and elephant3.jpg|right|thumb|350px|The title was inspired by the parable of the [[blind men and an elephant]].]]
The film began as a [[television film]] that Van Sant had intended to make about the [[Columbine High School massacre]]; eventually, the idea of a [[non-fiction|factual account]] was dropped.
The film began as a [[documentary]] that Van Sant had intended to make about the [[Columbine High School massacre]]; eventually, the idea of a [[non-fiction|factual account]] was dropped.<ref name="Crean">{{cite news |last1=Crean |first1=Ellen |title=2003: Shades Of Columbine |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2003-shades-of-columbine/ |access-date=9 December 2018 |work=cbsnews.com |date=21 May 2003 |language=en}}</ref>


<i>Elephant</i> was filmed in Van Sant's hometown of Portland, Oregon in late 2002, on the former campus of Whitaker Middle School (previously Adams High School.) Whitaker was closed by the Portland Public Schools in 2001, due to structural problems and safety concerns with the school building. The Whitaker/Adams building, completed in 1969, was torn down in 2007.
''Elephant'' was filmed in Van Sant's hometown, [[Portland, Oregon]], in late 2002, on the former campus of Whitaker Middle School (previously [[Adams High School (Portland, Oregon)|Adams High School]]).


The script was "written" to its final form during shooting, with cast members improvising freely and collaborating in the direction of scenes. The result is described by reviewers as "poetic" and "dreamlike", and by Van Sant himself as a rejection of conventional [[narrative]], building on what he learned from work on ''Gerry''.
There was no initial script before the filming started. The script was "written" to its final form during shooting, with cast members [[improvisation|improvising]] freely and collaborating in the direction of scenes. It was shot over 20 days.<ref name="Crean"/>


[[JT LeRoy]] is credited as an associate producer for the film. JT is a pen name for author [[Laura Albert]].
[[JT LeRoy]] (a pen name for author [[Laura Albert]]) is credited as an associate producer for the film.


===Title===
=== Title ===
The title is a tribute to the [[1989 in film|1989]] [[BBC]] [[Elephant (Alan Clarke film)|film of the same name]], directed by [[Alan Clarke]], which reflects on [[sectarian violence]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. Van Sant's minimalist style and use of tracking shots mirrors Clarke's film.<ref>[http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0436,lim,56529,20.html ''Village Voice'']</ref><ref>[http://www.filmmakermagazine.com/archives/online_features/cannes2003.php filmmakermagazine.com]</ref> Clarke used the title to refer to the phrase "[[elephant in the room]]" - a reference to the collective denial of some very obvious problem.
The title ''Elephant'' is a tribute to the 1989 [[BBC]] [[short film]] [[Elephant (1989 film)|of the same name]], directed by [[Alan Clarke]].<ref name="Crean"/> Van Sant originally believed Clarke's title referred to the parable of the [[blind men and an elephant]], in which several blind men try to describe an elephant, and each draws different conclusions based on which body part they touched, and Van Sant's film uses that interpretation, as the same general timeline is shown multiple times from multiple viewpoints.<ref>Caroline Bassett, ''The arc and the machine'', 2007, p.180</ref> Later, Van Sant discovered Clarke's film referred to the phrase "[[elephant in the room]]" (the collective denial of some obvious problem).<ref>Caroline Bassett, ''The arc and the machine'', 2007, p.181</ref>
Also, [[Gus Van Sant]] named [[Chantal Akerman]]'s film ''[[Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles]]'' (1975) as an inspiration.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2015 |title=Chantal Akerman : retour sur la carrière d'une cinéaste influente - Elle |url=https://www.elle.fr/Loisirs/Cinema/News/Chantal-Akerman-retour-sur-la-carriere-d-une-cineaste-discrete-3002285 |access-date= |website=elle.fr |language=fr}}</ref>


Clarke's film ''Elephant'' reflects on [[sectarian violence]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. Van Sant's [[minimalism|minimalist]] style and use of tracking shots mirrors Clarke's film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Dennis |title=Scanners |work=The Village Voice |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0436%2Clim%2C56529%2C20.html |url-status=dead |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017145747/http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0436,lim,56529,20.html |archive-date=October 17, 2006}}</ref>
A drawing of an elephant as well as an image of an elephant on a throw on the bed can be seen in Alex's room, while he plays the piano.


==North American premiere and release==
==Reception and legacy==
''Elephant'' received mainly positive reviews from critics and has a score of 74% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 164 reviews with an average rating of 7.10/10. The critical consensus states "The movie's spare and unconventional style will divide viewers."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/elephant/ |title=Elephant (2003) |access-date=8 July 2020 |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] }}</ref> The film also has a score of 70 out of 100 on [[Metacritic]] based on 37 critics indicating "generally favourable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/elephant |title=Elephant |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref>
''Elephant'' premiered in [[North America]] at a benefit for the [[Outside In]] youth shelter in Portland, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, in [[Portland, Oregon]], on Saturday, [[October 4]], [[2003]], with several teenagers who appeared in the film in attendance.


[[Roger Ebert]] praised the film and gave it 4 out of 4 stars writing "Gus Van Sant's ''Elephant'' is a violent movie in the sense that many innocent people are shot dead. But it isn't violent in the way it presents those deaths. There is no pumped-up style, no lingering, no release, no climax. Just implacable, poker-faced, flat, uninflected death. [[François Truffaut|Truffaut]] said it was hard to make an anti-war film because war was exciting even if you were against it. Van Sant has made an anti-violence film by draining violence of energy, purpose, glamor, reward and social context. It just happens. I doubt that ''Elephant'' will ever inspire anyone to copy what they see on the screen. Much more than the insipid message movies shown in social studies classes, it might inspire useful discussion and soul-searching among high school students."<ref>{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=7 November 2003 |title=Elephant |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/elephant-2003 |via=Rogerebert.com}}</ref>
The film was released for incremental distribution by [[Home Box Office|HBO]], in 100 theaters in the [[United States]], beginning [[October 24]], [[2003]]. [[English language]] release on [[DVD]] and [[VHS]] began on [[May 4]], [[2004]].


==Trivia==
===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
* Although it was made afterward, ''Elephant's'' release coincided with that of the lower budget ''[[Zero Day (film)|Zero Day]]''. Coincidentally, the directors of both films received degrees in film from the [[Rhode Island School of Design]].
|-
* The [[2005]] [[Red Lake High School Massacre]] was briefly blamed on the film ''Elephant'' as it was watched by [[Jeffrey Weise]] 17 days prior to the shooting.[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/30/national/main683990.shtml] A friend of Weise said that he brought the movie over to a friend's house and skipped ahead to parts that showed two students planning and carrying out a school massacre, although they talked about the film afterwards Jeffrey Weise said and did nothing to make anyone suspect what he was planning.[http://www.ktvotv3.com/Global/story.asp?S=3126813]
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Date of ceremony
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Recipient(s)
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[Bodil Awards]]
| rowspan="1" | [[58th Bodil Awards|27 February 2005]]
| [[Bodil Award for Best American Film|Best American Film]]
| rowspan="7" | [[Gus Van Sant]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" | <ref>{{Cite web |date=14 February 2005 |title=Bodil og Oscar inviterer til filmfest på DR |url=https://www.dr.dk/presse/bodil-og-oscar-inviterer-til-filmfest-paa-dr |access-date=21 June 2017 |publisher=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR]] |language=da}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan=3| [[Cannes Film Festival]]
| rowspan="3" | [[2003 Cannes Film Festival|14 – 25 May 2003]]
| [[Palme d'Or]]
| {{won}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/films/elephant |title=ELEPHANT |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Best Director Award (Cannes Film Festival)|Best Director]]
| {{won}}
|-
| Cinema Prize of the French National Education System
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dialogue-gus-van-sant-136802 |title=Dialogue: Gus Van Sant |author=Gregg Goldstein |date=21 May 2007 |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[César Awards]]
| rowspan="1" | [[29th César Awards|21 February 2004]]
| [[César Award for Best Foreign Film|Best Foreign Film]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/awards/bon-showing-for-rappeneau-1117898958/ |title='Bon' showing for Rappeneau |author=Alison James |date=23 January 2004 |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[French Syndicate of Cinema Critics]]
| rowspan="1" | 15 January 2004
| Best Foreign Film
| {{won}}
| rowspan="1" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/22/stories/2005082200780200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621235420/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/22/stories/2005082200780200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2017 |title=Feast for movie buffs |author=G. Krishnakumar |date=22 August 2005 |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" rowspan=2| [[Independent Spirit Awards]]
| rowspan="2" | [[19th Independent Spirit Awards|28 February 2004]]
| [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.advocate.com/news/2003/12/04/ltigtmonster-elephantltigt-among-independent-spirit-nominees-10655 |title=Monster, Elephant among Independent Spirit nominees (10655) |date=4 December 2003 |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|Advocate]]}}</ref>
|-
| [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| rowspan="4" | [[Harris Savides]]
| {{nom}}
|-
! scope="row"| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]]
| rowspan="1" | [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards 2003|7 January 2004]]
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| {{draw|Runner-up}}
| rowspan="1" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-09-et-king9-story.html |title='Splendor' is L.A. critics' best film |author=Susan King |date=9 January 2004 |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[National Society of Film Critics]]
| rowspan="1" | [[National Society of Film Critics Awards 2003|3 January 2004]]
| [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| {{draw|3rd place}}
| rowspan="1" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/awards/splendor-in-awards-mix-1117897721/ |title='Splendor' in awards mix |author=David Rooney |date=4 January 2004 |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[New York Film Critics Circle]]
| rowspan="1" | [[New York Film Critics Circle Awards 2003|15 December 2003]]
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
| {{won}}
| rowspan="1" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/cinematographer-harris-savides-dies-1118060611/ |title=Cinematographer Harris Savides dies |author=Steve Chagollan |date=11 October 2012 |access-date=21 June 2017 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>
|-
|}


===Shooting controversies===
==Comparison to the [[Columbine High School massacre]] ==
Rafael Solich, the perpetrator of the 2004 [[Carmen de Patagones school shooting]] had watched the film days prior to the shooting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Palacios |first=Por Rodolfo |date=2019-09-28 |title=A 15 años de la masacre de Carmen de Patagones: un adolescente a los tiros, muerte en el aula y el estremecedor relato de los sobrevivientes |url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/2019/09/28/a-15-anos-de-la-masacre-de-carmen-de-patagones-un-adolescente-a-los-tiros-muerte-en-el-aula-y-el-estremecedor-relato-de-los-sobrevivientes/ |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=infobae |language=es-ES}}</ref>
*Two male shooters.
*The use of a [[shotgun]].
*The use of a [[Intratec TEC-DC9|TEC-9]].
*The use of explosives.
*The failure of primary explosives to detonate.
*Mr. Luce is shot when trying to get kids out of the school, and dies later. His character could be a reference to coach [[William David Sanders|Dave Sanders]].
*Benny, the black student that was killed by Eric, could be seen as a reference to Isaiah Shoels.
*John McFarland's role in the climactic scene is based on [[Brooks Brown]], a student that was spared by [[Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold|Eric Harris]] outside of Columbine before the massacre.
*Alex shooting Eric could be based on [[Columbine conspiracy theories#Other Conspiracies|a former belief]] that Eric Harris shot Dylan Klebold before shooting himself.
*In both the movie and at Columbine, many of the killings occurred in the library.


The [[Red Lake shootings]] that occurred in 2005 were briefly blamed on the film, as it was viewed by gunman [[Jeff Weise]] 17 days prior to the event.<ref>Hancock, David. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/red-lake-shooting-conspiracy/ "Red Lake Shooting Conspiracy?"], CBS/Associated Press, 30 March 2005.</ref> A friend of Weise said that he brought the film over to a friend's house and skipped ahead to parts that showed two students planning and carrying out a school massacre. Although they talked about the film afterwards, Weise said and did nothing to make anyone suspect what he was planning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ktvotv3.com/Global/story.asp?S=3126813 |title="Suspected Red Lake shooter watched movie about a school attack" |access-date=2007-04-25 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503084900/http://www.ktvotv3.com/Global/story.asp?S=3126813 |archive-date=May 3, 2007 }}. ''[[KTVO-TV]]''.</ref>
==References==

{{reflist|2}}
During the [[Suzano school shooting]] that occurred in 2019, both perpetrators were seen wearing clothing that resembled that of the main characters of ''Elephant''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Romano |first=Giovanna |date=2021-03-26 |title=Suicídio, roupa preta, arma branca: semelhanças entre Columbine e Suzano |url=https://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/suicidio-roupa-preta-arma-branca-semelhancas-entre-columbine-e-suzano |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240715151630/https://veja.abril.com.br/brasil/suicidio-roupa-preta-arma-branca-semelhancas-entre-columbine-e-suzano |archive-date=2024-07-15 |work=VEJA |language=pt}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold]], the students behind the [[Columbine High School massacre]]
* [[Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold]], the students behind the [[Columbine High School massacre]]
* ''[[Zero Day]]'', another 2003 film inspired by the [[Columbine High School massacre]]
* ''[[Bowling for Columbine]]'', a documentary about gun violence in America with emphasis on the Columbine massacre
* ''[[Duck! The Carbine High Massacre]]'' another film made in 2000 inspired by the [[Columbine High School massacre]]
* ''[[Duck! The Carbine High Massacre]]'', a film made in 1999 inspired by the Columbine High School massacre
* ''[[Heart of America (film)|Heart of America]]'', yet another film revolving around a fictionalized school massacre
* ''[[Zero Day (2003 film)|Zero Day]]'', another film inspired by the Columbine High School massacre made in 2003
* ''[[The Only Way (2004 film)|The Only Way]]'', a 2004 [[independent film]] inspired by the Columbine High School massacre
* ''[[2:37]]'', a 2006 film set in Australia that follows the same style
* ''[[Run Hide Fight]]'', a 2020 film follows a high school sieged by a quartet of school shooters.
* ''[[Mass (2021 film)|Mass]]'', a 2021 film involving grieving parents who meet to discuss the aftermath of a school shooting

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{wikiquote|Elephant (film)}}
* [http://www.elephantmovie.com// Official site]
* {{imdb title|id=0363589|title=Elephant}}
* {{mojo title|id=elephant|title=Elephant}}


{{start box}}
* {{IMDb title}}
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* {{Mojo title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{succession box
| title = [[Palme d'Or]]
| before = ''[[The Pianist (2002 film)|The Pianist]]''
| years = 2003
| after = ''[[Fahrenheit 9/11]]''
}}
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{{Gus Van Sant's films}}
{{Gus Van Sant}}
{{Palme d'Or 2000-2019}}
{{School shootings in the United States}}

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[[Category:2003 films]]
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[[Category:2003 crime drama films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:2003 independent films]]
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[[Category:2003 LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:Columbine High School massacre]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:Drama films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Gus Van Sant]]
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[[Category:American nonlinear narrative films]]
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[[Category:American teen drama films]]
[[Category:American teen LGBTQ-related films]]
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[[Category:Films about mass murder]]
[[Category:Films about murderers]]
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Latest revision as of 20:57, 21 December 2024

Elephant
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGus Van Sant
Written byGus Van Sant
Produced byDany Wolf
StarringAlex Frost
Eric Deulen
John Robinson
CinematographyHarris Savides
Edited byGus Van Sant
Production
company
Meno Film Company
Distributed byFine Line Features
HBO Films
Release dates
  • May 2003 (2003-05) (Cannes)
  • October 24, 2003 (2003-10-24) (United States)
Running time
81 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3 million[1]
Box office$10 million[2]

Elephant is a 2003 American psychological drama film written, directed and edited by Gus Van Sant. It takes place in Watt High School, in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, and chronicles the events surrounding a school shooting, based in part on the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. The film begins a short time before the shooting occurs, following the lives of several characters both in and out of school, who are unaware of what is about to unfold. The film stars mostly new actors, including John Robinson, Alex Frost, and Eric Deulen.

Elephant is the second film in Van Sant's "Death Trilogy"—the first is Gerry (2002) and the third Last Days (2005)—all three of which are based on actual events.

Although Elephant was controversial for its subject matter and allegations of influence on the Red Lake shootings, it was generally praised by critics and received the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.[3]

Part of a series of articles on the
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine Memorial, dedicated to the victims of the massacre

Location:
Columbine High School
(Columbine, Colorado)

Perpetrators:
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Victims
Weaponry
Related persons
Media
Cultural impact and aftermath
Entertainment affected
Controversies
Related topics

Plot

[edit]

At the start of the film, John McFarland is driven to school by his father, who is driving erratically down the road. Noticing the damage done to the car, John realizes that his father is drunk and makes him move to the passenger seat so he can drive. When John arrives at school late, he is reprimanded by the principal, Mr. Luce.

The majority of the film is spent following several high school students going about their daily lives just before a school shooting. In addition to John, who struggles with controlling his alcoholic father, photography student Elias builds a portfolio of other students. Outcast Michelle struggles with her body issues and assists in the library. Bulimics Nicole, Brittany, and Jordan gripe about their parents and squabble while popular athlete and lifeguard Nathan meets with his girlfriend, Carrie. Acadia, a close friend of John's, attends a Gay-Straight Alliance meeting.

Unknown to anyone, two other students, Alex and Eric, are preparing to carry out a bomb/shooting attack on their school. Flashbacks throughout the film show them preparing for the massacre by ordering weapons online and formulating an attack plan. The two have a brief sexual encounter in the shower after they both admit that they've never kissed anyone before. Their motives for the shooting appear vague; the film provides evidence suggesting bullying, neglect, violent video games, and Nazism.

On the day of the shooting, the pair makes their way to school in Alex's car. Alex is armed with a Carbon-15 and a shotgun while Eric has a TEC-9. As they enter the school, they encounter John, and Alex tells him to leave. Realizing what is about to happen, John tries to warn students and teachers outside not to go into the school, but few people listen. He then notices his dad is missing after they arrived earlier and goes looking for him.

Alex and Eric plant propane bombs in the cafeteria, hoping to blow it up and shoot people as they try to escape the fire. When the bombs fail, they decide to start shooting indiscriminately. The pair heads into the library, where Elias photographs them right before they open fire on students. Michelle is killed, while Elias' fate is left unclear. Other students quickly realize that the gunfire is real and begin to panic, and teachers begin evacuating students.

Alex and Eric split up to opposing ends of the school to continue their shooting. Alex enters the girls' bathroom where he surprises Jordan, Nicole, and Brittany, presumably shooting all three. A student attending the Gay-Straight Alliance meeting enters the hallway investigating the gunfire and is shot dead. The alliance members evacuate through a window save for Acadia, who freezes at the sight of her dead classmate. Benny, an African-American student-athlete, finds her and helps her out the window before deciding to find the shooters.

Outside the school, John finds his now sobered-up father, who tries to comfort his son as the shooting continues. While helping students escape, Mr. Luce is cornered and threatened by Eric, prompting Mr. Luce to try and reason with him. Benny walks up behind Eric, and Eric abruptly turns around and shoots Benny dead. Eric tells Mr. Luce not to treat kids like him and Alex poorly. He then lets Mr. Luce go, only to gun him down seconds later.

Alex enters the cafeteria, which is strewn with overturned chairs, backpacks, several dead bodies, and numerous abandoned half-eaten lunches, and sits down. Alex picks up a cup from an abandoned lunch and casually drinks from it. Eric meets up with him, and they have a brief conversation about who they've shot, which ends when Alex shoots Eric mid-sentence. Alex leaves the cafeteria, showing no emotion over killing Eric, and discovers Carrie and Nathan hiding in a freezer. He tauntingly recites "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" to them to decide whom he should kill first. The film then cuts to the credits, leaving the ending ambiguous.

Cast

[edit]
  • Alex Frost as Alex, the more intelligent of the two killers, implied to be the one in charge. He is an accomplished but frustrated pianist and sketch artist.
  • Eric Deulen as Eric, a slacker, Alex's friend, and the other killer. He is less intelligent than Alex, and Alex is obviously aware of this. He is shot in the chest by Alex near the end of the film, while talking about whom he had killed earlier.
  • John Robinson as John McFarland, Alex's friend who has trouble at school while managing his alcoholic father. Alex warns him and a few other people to stay away from the massacre.
  • Timothy Bottoms as Mr. McFarland, John's alcoholic father.
  • Matt Malloy as Mr. Luce, the principal of the school. Cornered by Eric, who briefly spares him, he is presumed dead after being shot several times.
  • Elias McConnell as Elias, a photography student building his portfolio with portraits of other students.
  • Nathan Tyson and Carrie Finklea as Nathan and Carrie, a popular lifeguard/football player and his girlfriend. Alex taunts them with Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.
  • Kristen Hicks as Michelle, a nerdy girl ashamed of her body. The film follows her through the locker room and into the library where she assists, and it is there that she is the first to die in the massacre.
  • Brittany Mountain, Jordan Taylor, and Nicole George as Brittany, Jordan, and Nicole, three bulimic girls who talk incessantly, gripe about parents, and squabble with one another.
  • Bennie Dixon as Benny, an athletic student who helps Acadia escape out of a window before approaching Eric. He is shot and presumed dead.
  • Alicia Miles as Acadia, a close friend of John and a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance. During the shooting, Benny discovers her standing still in a classroom and helps her escape from the school and the shooters.

Production

[edit]
The title was inspired by the parable of the blind men and an elephant.

The film began as a documentary that Van Sant had intended to make about the Columbine High School massacre; eventually, the idea of a factual account was dropped.[4]

Elephant was filmed in Van Sant's hometown, Portland, Oregon, in late 2002, on the former campus of Whitaker Middle School (previously Adams High School).

There was no initial script before the filming started. The script was "written" to its final form during shooting, with cast members improvising freely and collaborating in the direction of scenes. It was shot over 20 days.[4]

JT LeRoy (a pen name for author Laura Albert) is credited as an associate producer for the film.

Title

[edit]

The title Elephant is a tribute to the 1989 BBC short film of the same name, directed by Alan Clarke.[4] Van Sant originally believed Clarke's title referred to the parable of the blind men and an elephant, in which several blind men try to describe an elephant, and each draws different conclusions based on which body part they touched, and Van Sant's film uses that interpretation, as the same general timeline is shown multiple times from multiple viewpoints.[5] Later, Van Sant discovered Clarke's film referred to the phrase "elephant in the room" (the collective denial of some obvious problem).[6] Also, Gus Van Sant named Chantal Akerman's film Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) as an inspiration.[7]

Clarke's film Elephant reflects on sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. Van Sant's minimalist style and use of tracking shots mirrors Clarke's film.[8]

Reception and legacy

[edit]

Elephant received mainly positive reviews from critics and has a score of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 164 reviews with an average rating of 7.10/10. The critical consensus states "The movie's spare and unconventional style will divide viewers."[9] The film also has a score of 70 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 37 critics indicating "generally favourable reviews".[10]

Roger Ebert praised the film and gave it 4 out of 4 stars writing "Gus Van Sant's Elephant is a violent movie in the sense that many innocent people are shot dead. But it isn't violent in the way it presents those deaths. There is no pumped-up style, no lingering, no release, no climax. Just implacable, poker-faced, flat, uninflected death. Truffaut said it was hard to make an anti-war film because war was exciting even if you were against it. Van Sant has made an anti-violence film by draining violence of energy, purpose, glamor, reward and social context. It just happens. I doubt that Elephant will ever inspire anyone to copy what they see on the screen. Much more than the insipid message movies shown in social studies classes, it might inspire useful discussion and soul-searching among high school students."[11]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Bodil Awards 27 February 2005 Best American Film Gus Van Sant Nominated [12]
Cannes Film Festival 14 – 25 May 2003 Palme d'Or Won [13]
Best Director Won
Cinema Prize of the French National Education System Won [14]
César Awards 21 February 2004 Best Foreign Film Nominated [15]
French Syndicate of Cinema Critics 15 January 2004 Best Foreign Film Won [16]
Independent Spirit Awards 28 February 2004 Best Director Nominated [17]
Best Cinematography Harris Savides Nominated
Los Angeles Film Critics Association 7 January 2004 Best Cinematography Runner-up [18]
National Society of Film Critics 3 January 2004 Best Cinematography 3rd place [19]
New York Film Critics Circle 15 December 2003 Best Cinematography Won [20]

Shooting controversies

[edit]

Rafael Solich, the perpetrator of the 2004 Carmen de Patagones school shooting had watched the film days prior to the shooting.[21]

The Red Lake shootings that occurred in 2005 were briefly blamed on the film, as it was viewed by gunman Jeff Weise 17 days prior to the event.[22] A friend of Weise said that he brought the film over to a friend's house and skipped ahead to parts that showed two students planning and carrying out a school massacre. Although they talked about the film afterwards, Weise said and did nothing to make anyone suspect what he was planning.[23]

During the Suzano school shooting that occurred in 2019, both perpetrators were seen wearing clothing that resembled that of the main characters of Elephant.[24]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Elephant". The Numbers. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Elephant". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. ^ The Indie Filmmaking Genius of Gus Van Sant | The VICE Guide To Film - VICE on YouTube.
  4. ^ a b c Crean, Ellen (21 May 2003). "2003: Shades Of Columbine". cbsnews.com. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  5. ^ Caroline Bassett, The arc and the machine, 2007, p.180
  6. ^ Caroline Bassett, The arc and the machine, 2007, p.181
  7. ^ "Chantal Akerman : retour sur la carrière d'une cinéaste influente - Elle". elle.fr (in French). October 7, 2015.
  8. ^ Lim, Dennis. "Scanners". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006.
  9. ^ "Elephant (2003)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Elephant". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  11. ^ Ebert, Roger (7 November 2003). "Elephant". Chicago Sun-Times – via Rogerebert.com.
  12. ^ "Bodil og Oscar inviterer til filmfest på DR" (in Danish). DR. 14 February 2005. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  13. ^ "ELEPHANT". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  14. ^ Gregg Goldstein (21 May 2007). "Dialogue: Gus Van Sant". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  15. ^ Alison James (23 January 2004). "'Bon' showing for Rappeneau". Variety. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  16. ^ G. Krishnakumar (22 August 2005). "Feast for movie buffs". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Monster, Elephant among Independent Spirit nominees (10655)". Advocate. 4 December 2003. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  18. ^ Susan King (9 January 2004). "'Splendor' is L.A. critics' best film". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  19. ^ David Rooney (4 January 2004). "'Splendor' in awards mix". Variety. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  20. ^ Steve Chagollan (11 October 2012). "Cinematographer Harris Savides dies". Variety. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  21. ^ Palacios, Por Rodolfo (2019-09-28). "A 15 años de la masacre de Carmen de Patagones: un adolescente a los tiros, muerte en el aula y el estremecedor relato de los sobrevivientes". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  22. ^ Hancock, David. "Red Lake Shooting Conspiracy?", CBS/Associated Press, 30 March 2005.
  23. ^ ""Suspected Red Lake shooter watched movie about a school attack"". Archived from the original on May 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). KTVO-TV.
  24. ^ Romano, Giovanna (2021-03-26). "Suicídio, roupa preta, arma branca: semelhanças entre Columbine e Suzano". VEJA (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-07-15.
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