Elephant
2003 · Movie · R · 81 min · ★ 7.0 · 72% critics
Several ordinary high school students move through their daily routine while others quietly prepare for something malevolent. The story follows the day from multiple points of view, showing how normal school life can collide with growing danger.
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Details
- Years
- 2003
- Release date
- 2003-09-20
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 81 min
- Critic score
- 72/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.0/10 (2,105 votes)
About
You might like this if you enjoy hushed, realistic portrayals of school life with shifting perspectives; Not for you if you need clear answers, lots of dialogue, or faster pacing like Paranoid Park or Fish Tank.
Pros: immersive realism; tense everyday routine; bold structure | Cons: slow, repetitive pacing; thin dialogue; unresolved feeling
Themes
- video game
- gun
- mass murder
- classroom
- portland, oregon
- violence in schools
- girlfriend
- school
- gun violence
- school shooting
- day in a life
- homosexuality
- +2 more
Awards & recognition
- Cannes Best Director Award · 2003
- Palme d'Or · 2003
- César Award — Best Foreign Film · 2004 · nominated
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Cinematography · 2004 · nominated
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Director · 2004 · nominated
Show all 6 awards →
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Cinematography · 2003 · nominated
Cast & crew
Alex Frost
as Alex
Eric Deulen
as Eric
John Robinson
as John McFarland
Elias McConnell
as Elias
- JT
Jordan Taylor
as Jordan
Carrie Finklea
as Carrie
- NG
Nicole George
as Nicole
- BM
Brittany Mountain
as Brittany
- AM
Alicia Miles
as Acadia
- KH
Kristen Hicks
as Michelle
Directed by Gus Van Sant