Elephant (2003)
A day in the lives of a group of average teenage high school students. The film follows every character and shows their daily routines. Things go extreme when two students arrive with violent intentions.
5 February 1914, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
27 March 1977, Portland, Oregon, USA
20 June 1943, Lake Oswego, Oregon, USA
25 October 1985, Portland, Oregon, USA
6 November 1986, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
1971, Costa Mesa, California, USA
May 14, 2014
Watching it, one is left with the cold realization that a story like this had to be made for the screen, and it had to be done so exactly with this level of intensity.
April 29, 2009
One of the most disturbing films I've ever seen, one that gave me a rush of emotions of sadness, horror, disbelief, shock, and anguish.
April 24, 2013
Elephant creates gorgeous, wide-open spaces that allow viewers the freedom to reflect without having a point-of-view imposed on them.
April 01, 2006
Van Sant's least 'show-offy', most personal, best picture in years (maybe ever), and an honourable attempt at respectfully considering the unbearable.
January 26, 2006
The film doesn't try to explain, but to put us in a subjective time and space, a place where it's impossible not to feel the abject horror of random violence.
April 24, 2013
What I'll remember most vividly about Gus Van Sant's extraordinary "Elephant" is not the violent climax but the state of grace that precedes it.
August 07, 2004
Elephant is a lurid tease posing as an art film.
April 24, 2013
The approach is oddly riveting, though, because the tension builds slowly, and you know what's going to happen at the end of the day.
August 03, 2012
Director Gus Van Sant takes a powerful approach to this material, without being heavy-handed.
October 18, 2005
A failure to communicate
April 24, 2013
Gus Van Sant's fascinating, mysterious, semidocumentary meditation on the Columbine massacre is not very satisfying, but it's still something to see.
October 18, 2008
One of the most stimulating and provocative films of the year.
