Elephant (2003)

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writer (WGA):

Gus Van Sant (written by)

Release Date:

3 October 2003 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

An ordinary high school day. Except that it's not.

Plot:

Several ordinary high school students go through their daily routine as two others prepare for something more malevolent.

Plot Keywords:

Student | High School | Death | Laptop | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Alex Frost	...	Alex
Eric Deulen	...	Eric
John Robinson	...	John McFarland
Elias McConnell	...	Elias
Jordan Taylor	...	Jordan
Carrie Finklea	...	Carrie
Nicole George	...	Nicole
Brittany Mountain	...	Brittany
Alicia Miles	...	Acadia
Kristen Hicks	...	Michelle
Bennie Dixon	...	Benny
Nathan Tyson	...	Nathan
Timothy Bottoms	...	Mr. McFarland
Matt Malloy	...	Mr. Luce
Ellis Williams	...	GSA Teacher (as Ellis E. Williams)
Chantelle Chriestenson Nelson	...	Noelle (as Chantelle Chriestenson)
Kim Kenney	...	Assistant Principal's Secretary
Marci Buntrock	...	Assistant Secretary
Roman Ostrovsky	...	Red Haired Kid
Vana O'Brien	...	P.E. Instructor
Michael Paulsen	...	Bully
Alfred Ono	...	Mr. Fong
Marychris Mass	...	Alex's Mom
Jim Steinpreis	...	Alex's Dad
Jeremy Simpson	...	Delivery Man
Sherilyn Lawson	...	Teacher #1
Sarah Lucht	...	Teacher #2
Larry Laverty	...	Teacher #3
Dave Stippich	...	Teacher #4
Jimmy Gomez	...	Kid on Bike
Joe Cronin	...	Science Teacher
Wolfgang Williams	...	Punk Guy
Caroline Donovan Boyd	...	Punk Girl
Travis Ferguson	...	Science Student
Ernest Truly	...	GSA Teacher
Mary Muldrew	...	GSA Student
Sarah Bing	...	GSA Student
Kether Hayden	...	GSA Student
Natascha Snellman	...	GSA Student
Ruben Bansie-Snellman	...	GSA Student (as Ruben Bansie)
Joe Sackett	...	GSA Student
Jason Seitz	...	GSA Victim
Shanti Cho	...	Student in Darkroom
Theara Sao	...	Eli's Friend
Tiana Woods	...	Eli's Classmate
Griffin Goins	...	Football Player
Max Horner	...	Football Player
Thomas Trullinger	...	Football Player
Ty Schwoeffermann	...	Football Player
Ray Monge	...	Janitor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William S. Burroughs	...	Voice (text excerpts) (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mahdad Rezaujan	...	Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Gus Van Sant

Writing credits (WGA)
Gus Van Sant		(written by)

Produced by
Jay Hernandez	....	associate producer
Diane Keaton	....	executive producer
J.T. LeRoy	....	associate producer (as JT Leroy)
Bill Robinson	....	executive producer
Dany Wolf	....	producer

Cinematography by
Harris Savides

Film Editing by
Gus Van Sant

Casting by
Mali Finn
Danny Stoltz

Art Direction by
Benjamin Hayden

Costume Design by
Marychris Mass		(uncredited)

Production Management
Jen Wall	....	production supervisor
Dany Wolf	....	unit production manager
Greg Spence	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sally Sue Beisel	....	second assistant director
Kathy Krause	....	second second assistant director
Dany Wolf	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Philip Blackburn	....	set dresser (as Phil Blackburn)
Ken Erck	....	lead scenic
Sean Fong	....	assistant props
Greg McMickle	....	props assistant
Robert Melchior	....	leadman (as Rob Melchior)
John Pearson-Denning	....	prop master
Teresa Tamiyasu	....	set dresser (as Teresa J. Tamiyasu)
Daniel Rowland	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Felix Andrew	....	sound mixer
David A. Cohen	....	dialogue editor (as David Cohen)
Neil Riha	....	boom operator
Leslie Shatz	....	sound designer
Tanya Smith	....	sound assistant
Concha Solano	....	sound assistant
Frank Canonica	....	supervising sound recordist (uncredited)
Samuel Cohen	....	post-production sound (uncredited)
Michael 'Gonzo' Gandsey	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Michael 'Gonzo' Gandsey	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Martin Schloemer	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Austin Storms	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Charles Cooley	....	special effects assistant
Jor Van Kline	....	special effects coordinator
A. Brent Carlson	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Collin Fowler	....	visual effects coordinator: Illusion Arts (uncredited)
Mark Kenaston	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Thomas M. Ficke	....	stunt coordinator (as Tom Ficke)
Danny Downey	....	stunts (uncredited)
Casey Easlick	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Blauvelt	....	first assistant camera (as Christopher Blauvelt)
Eric Alan Edwards	....	time-lapse photographer (as Eric Edwards)
Bruce 'Sarge' Fleskes	....	gaffer
Scott Patrick Green	....	still photographer (as Scott Green)
Mike Hanauska	....	grip
Brent Lawson	....	best boy grip
Brian C. Lawson	....	dolly grip (as Brian Lawson)
Bruce Lawson	....	key grip
Stephen MacDougall	....	loader (as Steve MacDougall)
Matías Mesa	....	Steadicam operator (as Matias Mesa)
Steve Pape	....	electrician
Steve Purcell	....	electrician
Hector Rodriguez	....	second assistant camera
Chris Steele	....	electrician
Shawn Sundby	....	grip
Scott Walters	....	best boy electric
James Walton	....	24 frame playback operator: Cascade Video Systems

Casting Department
Sally Gates	....	extras casting: Extras Only Casting
Jonathan Leeder	....	casting associate (uncredited)
David Rapaport	....	casting associate (uncredited)
Danny Stoltz	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marsha Barlett	....	costumer
Tamy Cropper	....	set costumer
Leslie Gilbertson	....	costumer
Marychris Mass	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Peter Appleton	....	first assistant editor
John Dowdell	....	video colorist
Kiersten Harter	....	first assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer
Veronica Vichit-Vadakan	....	apprentice editor
Bruce Bolden	....	colorist (uncredited)

Other crew
Wendy Arnold	....	craft service assistant
Carolyn Barber	....	assistant to producers
Ryan Brown	....	production assistant
A. Brent Carlson	....	production assistant (as Brent Carlson)
Erin Corzine	....	assistant to producers
Patricia Donahue	....	craft service assistant
Jeff Ettlin	....	production assistant
Dara Etzel	....	assistant production coordinator
Roger D. Faires	....	location manager (as Roger Faires)
Jack Gibson	....	production assistant
Mary Jasionowski	....	accountant
Heather Jenkins	....	extras coordinator
Michael D. Jones	....	assistant production coordinator (as Michael Jones)
Kelsey Kline	....	extras coordinator
Alicia Kreutzkampf	....	craft service assistant
Eric Lahey	....	production assistant
Chris Lawson	....	production assistant
Corwin Light-Williams	....	video game designer
Nick Monahan	....	assistant accountant
Greg Moutran	....	key set production assistant
Dawnn Pavlonnis	....	extras coordinator
Deborah Ricketts	....	video clip clearance
Taylor Saxon	....	set medic
Leah Sinrich	....	assistant to producers
Gabe Smith	....	production assistant
Rebecca Thornell	....	clearances
Don Williams	....	assistant craft service
Patsy Williams	....	key craft service
John C. Worsley	....	video game designer
Amy Davies	....	extras coordinator/pa (uncredited)
Stephen Finders	....	location assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Richard Francis	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• HBO Films (presents)
• Fine Line Features (in association with)
• Meno Films
• Blue Relief Productions
• Fearmakers Studios (uncredited)

Distributors

• HBO Films (2003) (USA) (all media)
• Fine Line Features (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (an AOL Time Warner company)
• A-Film Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• BIM Distribuzione (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Elephant Picture (Japan) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Lighthouse Pictures (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Tokyo Theaters Company (Japan) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2003) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Impuls Home Entertainment (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD) (Arthaus label)
• Madman Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Illusion Arts (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Barnes, Morris, Mark, Yorn & Levine  production attorney (as Barnes Morris Klein Mark Yorn Barnes & Levine)
• Camera Service Center  cameras
• DTC Grip & Electric  electrics
• DownStream  video dailies
• Extras Only  extras casting (as Extras Only Casting)
• FotoKem Laboratory  color by (as Fotokem)
• Negative People  negative cutting
• Oregon Film & Video Office  special thanks
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Portland Public Schools  special thanks
• Premiere Catering of Oregon  caterer (as Premier Catering)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound re-recording facilities (as The Saul Zaentz Film Center)
• Team Neophonic  special thanks (as Neophonic)
• Technicolor Creative Services  video telecine
• Title House Digital  titles
• Wilshire Stages, The  sound re-recording facilities (as Wilshire Stages)

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing violent content, language, brief sexuality and drug use - all involving teens.

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Hungary:16 | France:-12 | Japan:R-15 | Brazil:16 | Netherlands:16 | South Africa:16LV | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Sweden:15 | Norway:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40167)

Filming Locations:

John Adams High School, 5135 NE Columbia Boulevard, Portland, Oregon, USA

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

Gus Van Sant borrowed the title from Alan Clarke's film of the same name, and thought that it referred to the Chinese proverb about five blind men who were each led to a different part of an elephant. Each man thinks that it is a different thing. What Clarke's title actually referred to was the idea of the "elephant in the room." It's an idiom for an obvious truth that gets ignored, like an elephant in a room that no one will acknowledge is there.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Nate is first shown at the GSA meeting, he is seen wearing a tan shirt, then later when he walks to the door and is shot, he is wearing a blue shirt. When you see him laying on the floor after Benny enters the classroom, he's wearing a tan shirt again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mr. McFarland: What? Hey! Where are you going? Come here.
John McFarland: Oh, my God, Dad.
Mr. McFarland: Get in the car. You're gonna be late for school. Come on.
John McFarland: Mom's gonna kill you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sur les traces de Gerry (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Walk Through Resonant Landscape #2

VanSant's best thus far?

Gus VanSant's ELEPHANT isn't an unquestionable masterpiece, but it's close. I found it to be hypnotic and gripping, and in spite of knowing how things would end, I still found the ending to be devastating.

The lone flaw I can identify is originality - this film owes a tremendous debt to certain international directors (Bela Tarr and an earlier Irish ELEPHANT, along with current maverick directors like Abbas Kiarostami, Hirokazu Kore'eda and Tsai Ming-liang) in both look and perspective, and it's not the only recent American film to make effective use of poetic imagery: FAR FROM HEAVEN, LOST IN TRANSLATION, CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES, RAISING VICTOR VARGAS all took a similar approach to their subject matter, and were all just as effective.

But VanSant's style has matured - the sky scenes in ELEPHANT seem to quote DRUGSTORE COWBOY, and in both films they symbolize the passage of time, the general drift of life, and in opening with such a scene, VanSant is offering a subtle warning that ELEPHANT is poetic and interpretive, not a docudrama or realistic take on high school shootings, and shouldn't be taken as such. Characters drift through the day, knowing each other at mostly superficial levels (not moving beyond the level of stereotypes), which feels like what I remember high school to often be, and VanSant has no interest or need to move beyond that - to 'read into' these characters, or have them make grand speeches and gestures would've only made this film preposterous.

ELEPHANT isn't about the media (which is ubiquitous), homosexuality (a random genetic occurrence found in any setting), bullies (which exist everywhere as well, though for psychological or sociological reasons) or any variety of high school caste system - it's about the randomness of violence, and the first two thirds of this film - in both the gliding long shots following characters (and the audio, with conversations drifting in and out), and the fragmented timeline (shifting back and forth in time as it moves from one character to another) - is a startling portrayal of the random, anonymous nature of an average day at school. It could be noted that the school is just a location of convenience in VanSant's hands; this film (or the incidents depicted in it) could be set anywhere, which is partly the point. In much of the world, random, senseless violence is always a possibility, which is really what this film observes and (in the horror of the depiction) protests, and it's just as much of a tragedy when it occurs in a generic, random, average setting (like this school and the people in it), as when it occurs in a dramatic, unusual setting that creates martyrs and heroes.

A very challenging film, in the best of ways. For quite a while, we've seen a number of films attempt to explore similar themes (most interestingly, many of Stanley Kubrick's films), often going for the opposite approach - startling an audience with intensity and violence: the heavy-handed brutality of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (the most brilliant example of shock tactics used effectively, though lacking the subtlety that makes other Kubrick films stronger), or Larry Clark's far more exploitative and dull KIDS (a genuinely sloppy and anticlimactic film which seems to exist mainly to give a sheltered audience a few 'shocking' cheap thrills to get off on, offering few insights that hadn't already been offered elsewhere). ELEPHANT stuns primarily by taking the opposite route - languid and poetic - which ultimately makes it all the more powerful.