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Elephant

  • 20032003
  • RR
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
91K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,479
779
Elephant (2003)
Trailer
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
77 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
Several ordinary high school students go through their daily routine as two others prepare for something more malevolent.Several ordinary high school students go through their daily routine as two others prepare for something more malevolent.Several ordinary high school students go through their daily routine as two others prepare for something more malevolent.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
91K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,479
779
  • Director
    • Gus Van Sant
  • Writer
    • Gus Van Sant
  • Stars
    • Elias McConnell
    • Alex Frost
    • Eric Deulen
Top credits
  • Director
    • Gus Van Sant
  • Writer
    • Gus Van Sant
  • Stars
    • Elias McConnell
    • Alex Frost
    • Eric Deulen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 718User reviews
    • 220Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 14 nominations

    Videos1

    Elephant
    Trailer 2:06
    Elephant

    Photos77

    Elias McConnell in Elephant (2003)
    Alicia Miles and John Robinson in Elephant (2003)
    Alex Frost in Elephant (2003)
    Gus Van Sant and Alex Frost in Elephant (2003)
    Alex Frost at an event for Elephant (2003)
    Alex Frost at an event for Elephant (2003)
    Alex Frost at an event for Elephant (2003)
    Carrie Finn at an event for Elephant (2003)
    Carrie Finn at an event for Elephant (2003)
    John Robinson at an event for Elephant (2003)
    John Robinson at an event for Elephant (2003)
    Alex Frost, Carrie Finn, Nathan Tyson, and John Robinson at an event for Elephant (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Elias McConnell
    Elias McConnell
    • Eliasas Elias
    Alex Frost
    Alex Frost
    • Alexas Alex
    Eric Deulen
    Eric Deulen
    • Ericas Eric
    John Robinson
    John Robinson
    • John McFarlandas John McFarland
    Jordan Taylor
    • Jordanas Jordan
    Carrie Finn
    Carrie Finn
    • Carrieas Carrie
    • (as Carrie Finklea)
    Nicole George
    • Nicoleas Nicole
    Brittany Mountain
    • Brittanyas Brittany
    Alicia Miles
    • Acadiaas Acadia
    Kristen Hicks
    Kristen Hicks
    • Michelleas Michelle
    Bennie Dixon
    • Bennyas Benny
    Nathan Tyson
    Nathan Tyson
    • Nathanas Nathan
    Timothy Bottoms
    Timothy Bottoms
    • Mr. McFarlandas Mr. McFarland
    Matt Malloy
    Matt Malloy
    • Mr. Luceas Mr. Luce
    Ellis Williams
    • GSA Teacheras GSA Teacher
    • (as Ellis E. Williams)
    Chantelle Chriestenson Nelson
    • Noelleas Noelle
    • (as Chantelle Chriestenson)
    Kim Kenney
    • Assistant Principal's Secretaryas Assistant Principal's Secretary
    Marci Buntrock
    • Assistant Secretaryas Assistant Secretary
    • Director
      • Gus Van Sant
    • Writer
      • Gus Van Sant
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The average film has 1,250 shots. There are only about 88 shots in this film. More than half of them are in the last twenty minutes.
    • Goofs
      As Michelle is show pushing a trolley of books in the library over to a shelf just after the photographer walks in, you can see the yellow and white tape markings on the floor that indicate where she is supposed to stop the trolley and were she is to stand to stack the shelf.
    • Quotes

      Alex: So foul and fair a day I have not seen.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Best Films of 2003 (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor, No. 2 Moonlight - Adagio Sostenuto
      (1800-01)

      Traditional

      Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven

      Courtesy of FirstCom Music, Inc.

    User reviews718

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    What we learn when we look from the inside out...
    I just finished watching this movie and I am struck by how quickly I forgot how the world looks when you are a teenager. The movie was excruciatingly slow to start. Instead of formulaic pacing, this film forced us to move at its pace, where we were committed to each long slow camera pan or walk through with the characters. As I have grown up the scope of my life has been ever widening. It stands to reason then that during my younger years I barely conceived of life outside of what I knew, or where I was able to walk. This is what stands out to me about Elephant. When events like this take place, we immediately contextualize them and are unable to look at it from the level of those involved. What Gus VanSant does is bring us very close to the story. I don't see that he attempted to answer many questions, or to portray any specific characters in any light, but he attempts to bring the audience inside such a situation. To the villains in this film there is no deep reasoning, and no evil justification. Aside from revenge over minor school harassment they want to play a more realistic video game. They have created their own reality and carry out their deeds inside of it. This film was made without exploiting the memory of those who have actually been involved in such an event. Since it has been 5 years since these events took place, I am surprised to see a fresh look at this subject matter. What is especially heartbreaking about these tragedies is that when there is no meaning and just random violence there is nothing we can learn by investigating it. The irony of course is that I got this message from viewing a movie that explores this subject matter. I think the movie tells us we can only move on after senseless tragedy, and not solve the problems that caused them. When there is nothing behind the eyes of the people carrying this out, there is no great value in making sense of their actions. It is human nature to do so, and you would think that logically there would be theories, conclusions, etc about the causes. However we would gain much more by focusing on the people who were the victims, and learning about them. In this way they may make a positive mark on us.
    helpful•51
    38
    • Mercenary151
    • Apr 5, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 14, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Fil
    • Filming locations
      • Whitaker Middle School, 5700 NE 39th Ave, Portland, Oregon, USA
    • Production companies
      • HBO Films
      • Fine Line Features
      • Meno Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,266,955
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $93,356
      • Oct 26, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,012,022
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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