Elephant (2003)

Note Générale:

7,3/10   

Réalisateur:

Gus Van Sant

Scénariste (WGA):

Gus Van Sant (written by)

Date de sortie:

3 octobre 2003 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Drame

Accroche:

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

Intrigue:

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

Récompenses:

5 wins & 6 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

Throughout this Cannes-winning, almost docudrama, Van Sant turns our expectations upside down.

Ensemble

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
reste de la distribution par ordre alphabétique:
William S. Burroughs	...	Voice (text excerpts) (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
Adolf Hitler	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Mahdad Rezaujan	...	Student (uncredited)

Réalisé par
Gus Van Sant

Scénaristes (WGA)
Gus Van Sant		(written by)

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

Image
Harris Savides

Montage
Gus Van Sant

Distribution des rôles
Mali Finn
Danny Stoltz

Direction artistique
Benjamin Hayden

Création des costumes
Marychris Mass		(uncredited)

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

Assistant réalisateur
Sally Sue Beisel	....	second assistant director
Kathy Krause	....	second second assistant director
Dany Wolf	....	first assistant director

Département Art
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)

Technicien du son
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)

Effets spéciaux
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)

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

Caméra et Département Electrique
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

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

Département Costume et garde-Robe
Marsha Barlett	....	costumer
Tamy Cropper	....	set costumer
Leslie Gilbertson	....	costumer
Marychris Mass	....	wardrobe supervisor

Dpartement Editorial
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)

Divers
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)

Merci
Richard Francis	....	special thanks

Companies de production

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

Distributeurs

• 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)

Technicien des effets spéciaux

• Illusion Arts (special visual effects)

Autres 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.

Durée:

81 min

Pays:

USA

Langue:

Anglais | Allemand

Couleur:

Couleur

Rapport de forme:

1,37 : 1

Son:

Dolby Digital

Classification:

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)

Lieux de tournage:

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

Société:

HBO Films

Anecdotes:

The original script draft was written by J.T. LeRoy.

Goofs:

Equipe ou équipement 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.

Guillemet:

[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.

Connexions:

Références Elephant (1989) (TV)

Bande son:

Walk Through Resonant Landscape #2

Throughout this Cannes-winning, almost docudrama, Van Sant turns our expectations upside down.

What's in the name of a place? Tombstone, Columbine? The former conjures up thoughts of heroic justice, the latter mass murder. Understanding the motives of Wyatt Earp or Dillon Klebold is not as easy as the place names; interpreting a film about either event as antiviolence is not easy either.

So director Gus Van Sant (`My Private Idaho,' `Good Will Hunting,' `Gerry') fictionalizes an average high school at which a Columbine-like massacre takes place. Interestingly, he makes no attempt to relay the underlying causes for the young men's decision to slaughter; in fact, he seems to try hard not to supply any reasons except for a brief segment with a boy watching a show on Nazis and a faceless mother serving pancakes. Even the lad whose father is an alcoholic is not one of the murderers.

As my radio co-host, Clay Lowe, reminds me from our conversation with the director, in Van Sant's Zen Buddhist way, he seems to be saying the reasons for the crime are unknowable like human existence itself. For those critics who fault Van Sant for not committing himself to a thesis, the unknowable should have sufficed. That is not to say the director's slow pace, long takes, and interminable tracking shots aren't boring; it's just that the viewer must give in to the director's vision of teenage life as essentially devoid of humor, excitement, and rationale. For us Western rational types, this mirthless world may serve as a possible cause for the slaughter. As one of the murderers tells the other at the beginning of the rampage, `Have fun.'

Throughout this Cannes-winning, almost docudrama, Van Sant turns our expectations upside down: The misfit girl is not saved just because she is like the assassins; the muscular, seemingly impervious African-American student, tracked like a savior through the halls, is not a hero at all, but another disengaged high-schooler not reading the signals.

The aphorism about the ignored elephant in the living room, where it no longer can be seen because it's been there too long, or the one about the blind men who, each with a part of the elephant, can't describe the whole, can be the appropriate theme of this cinema-verite dissection of the senselessness of evil. As Joseph Conrad said about the violation of the jungle, `It was reckless without hardihood, greedy without audacity, and cruel without courage; there was not an atom of foresight or of serious intention in the whole bunch of them.' In other words, crime and it criminals are inscrutable.