Elephant
Elephant is a 2003 American psychological drama film written, directed and edited by Gus Van Sant. It takes place in Watt High School, in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, and chronicles the events surrounding a school shooting, heavily inspired by the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. The film begins a short time before the shooting occurs, following the lives of several characters both in and out of school, who are unaware of what is about to unfold. The film stars mostly new actors, including John Robinson, Alex Frost, and Eric Deulen.
Plot
At the start of the film, John McFarland is driven to school by his father, who is driving erratically down the road. Noticing the damage done to the car, John realizes that his father is drunk and makes him move to the passenger seat so he can drive. When John arrives at school late, he is reprimanded by the principal, Mr. Luce.
Awards
More details
author | Gus Van Sant |
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award | Cannes Best Director Award Palme d'Or |
contentLocation | Oregon |
director | Gus Van Sant |
editor | Gus Van Sant |
genre | crime drama |
keywords | abandon alcoholic father bully carbon 15 dead bodies drive end help hide high school student kill meet nazism principal school shooting sexual encounter shoot shoot indiscriminately spree killing taunt tec-9 their way video game |
musicBy | Leslie Shatz Ludwig van Beethoven |
nomination | César Award for Best Foreign Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography Independent Spirit Award for Best Director National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography |
producer | Dany Wolf |
productionCompany | Meno Film Company |
publisher | Fine Line Features HBO Films |
recordedAt | Portland |
theme | high school independent narrative psychological drama short teen drama |