Elephant (2003)

Calificación de los usuarios:

7.3/10   

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Guionista (WGA):

Gus Van Sant (written by)

Fecha de Lanzamiento:

3 octubre 2003 (Italy)

Género:

Crimen | Drama

Frase comercial:

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 | Cafeteria | Video Game | Columbine

Premios:

5 wins & 6 nominations

Comentarios de los usuarios:

Topical tribute that we should never forget.

Reparto

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
listado alfabético del resto del reparto:
William S. Burroughs	...	Voice (text excerpts) (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mahdad Rezaujan	...	Student (uncredited)

Dirigida por
Gus Van Sant

Créditos del guión (WGA)
Gus Van Sant		(written by)

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

Fotografía por
Harris Savides

Montaje por
Gus Van Sant

Casting
Mali Finn
Danny Stoltz

Dirección artística
Benjamin Hayden

Diseño de vestuario por
Marychris Mass		(uncredited)

Dirección de producción
Jen Wall	....	production supervisor
Dany Wolf	....	unit production manager
Greg Spence	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Ayudante de dirección
Sally Sue Beisel	....	second assistant director
Kathy Krause	....	second second assistant director
Dany Wolf	....	first assistant director

Departamento de Arte
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)

Departamento de sonido
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)

Efectos especiales
Charles Cooley	....	special effects assistant
Jor Van Kline	....	special effects coordinator
A. Brent Carlson	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

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

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

Cámara y Departamento Eléctrico
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

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

Departamento de vestuario
Marsha Barlett	....	costumer
Tamy Cropper	....	set costumer
Leslie Gilbertson	....	costumer
Marychris Mass	....	wardrobe supervisor

Departamento de Edición
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)

Otros miembros del equipo
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)

Gracias
Richard Francis	....	special thanks

Compañías Productores

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

Distribuidores

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

Efectos especiales

• Illusion Arts (special visual effects)

Otras Compañías

• 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)

También conocida como:

Elefante (Argentina) [es]
Elephant (Spain) [es]

MPAA:

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

Duración:

81 min

País:

USA

Idioma:

Inglés | Alemán

Color:

Color

Relación de Aspecto:

1.37 : 1

Sonido:

Dolby Digital

Clasificación:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Hungary:16 | France:-12 | Japan:R-15 | Brazil:16 | Netherlands:16 | South Africa:16LV | 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)

Locaciones de Filmación:

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

Compañía:

HBO Films

Trivialidades:

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.

Errores:

Personal o Equipo Visible: 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.

Citas:

[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.

Conexiones de Película:

References Sátántangó (1994)

Banda de Sonido:

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor, No. 2 Moonlight - Adagio Sostenuto

Topical tribute that we should never forget.

I remember the fuss that surrounded this obscure movie upon release. How dare a film-maker, even one like Gus Van Sant, make a film based around the tragic shooting at Columbine? I suspect that most people's fears were based around what the film might be like. Would the murderers be defended? Would the violence be explicit or glorified? Perhaps they should have taken a moment to watch this film which treats its subject matter with the respect and gravitas it deserves.

The film introduces us to several high school kids and follows them around during a normal school day. Frequently, the film overlaps itself as each character interacts with others or visits the same location other characters are doing their bit in. Groups of girls gossip in the canteen, a wannabe photographer develops his prints, a shy girl helps out in the library after a physical education lesson. Only when the horrible truth of what is to come becomes clear does the film's terrifying core reveals itself.

There is no doubt that this is a powerful film, despite almost nothing happening until the final reel. All the actors are unknowns, the dialogue is largely improvised and the soundtrack is reduced to a simple piano tune played by one of the participants. But because you know what is to happen, you remain fixed on the characters milling around doing nothing - imagine "Big Brother" but with the added thrill of knowing that something sick and evil is coming. If anything, it becomes worse when the two gunmen begin to reveal themselves and their plan to the viewer. I found myself wishing I could step in the screen and stop them and it is a long time since any film made me care that much. It is quite strange how time seems to ebb by so slowly, especially as the tragedy unfolds.

The violence is never glorified or justified, merely portrayed as though it were actually happening before your eyes. It will almost certainly have greater resonance among American viewers as it displays the dark side of U.S. gun laws. How many more schools must suffer tragedies such as this before something is changed? It took Britain just one such incident before some of the most strict gun laws in the world were introduced. The film is almost pleading through the screen: would you still back our gun laws if this happened at your school or your child's school?

It has to be said that "Elephant" is a difficult film to watch, the sense of unease growing in the viewer as everyone in the film carries on as normal. I think that rather than exploit Columbine, Gus Van Sant has treated the memory of those who died with respect and honour. Admittedly, the film has it's faults. The ending felt rushed and confusing and the pace throughout is dreadfully slow, probably to allow the full extent of what's happening to sink in. There is no doubt that "Elephant" has more than a message at its heart - it is a powerful tribute to the pupils and teachers who died that day at Columbine High School. Never forget.