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Elephant (2003)
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With its title taken from Alan Clarke's 1989 BBC drama about violence in Northern Ireland, director Gus Van Sant's Palme d'Or-winning film documents a normal day at an ordinary American high school. Except this day ends in a senseless massacre, much like the Columbine killings to which it alludes. The main characters are real students using their actual names, and their matter-of-fact casual encounters and improvised snatched conversations are detailed in long travelling shots, often replayed from slightly different perspectives, before Alex (Alex Frost) and Eric (Eric Deulen) enter school in camouflage gear carrying internet-purchased assault weapons. It's either a disturbing yet poetic disaster movie, or an unsatisfyingly arty view of a contemporary malaise that offers no reasons or solutions. By sitting on the fence and not apportioning blame, Van Sant's experimental drama raises more questions than it answers — and that's perhaps his point. AJ
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Tell us what you think
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Running time
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78min
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Country of origin
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US
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Genre
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Drama
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Original language
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English
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Screenplay
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Gus Van Sant
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Theatrical distributor
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Optimum Releasing
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UK cinema certificate
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15
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UK cinema release date
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January 2004
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UK video release date
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July 2004
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| awards information |
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Award |
Category |
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Nominee/Winner |
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| Cannes International Film Festival 2003 |
Director |
Gus Van Sant |
Winner |
| Cannes International Film Festival 2003 |
Palme D'Or |
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Winner |
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Film certification logos reproduced by kind permission of BBFC |
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