"Elephant" was pure art. At times groundbreaking and innovative, other times so enigmatic to the point of angering hearts and minds by the thousands but in the end Gus Van Sant managed to deliver an unforgettable piece that injected a deeper look to the clichéd high school flicks, and also made a poignant statement about violence in schools.
Interestingly enough, this behind the scenes documentary following director, cast and crew of "Elephant" destroyed the tired and boring concept of those productions to become a work of art that explores another work of art. Instead of interviews featuring Alex Frost, John Robinson and others explaining the movie and how they loved being part of the production, praising their director, this piece presents a difficult question and the actors, in the best way they can express, try to find possible answers on where does violence comes from (which is the main theme of the film) and why does it happen so often in schools. Bear in mind, the majority of the young actors featured in the film just had their film debut on the screen, so they don't have (and they don't need as well) the eloquence and the fluency of more experience thespians, yet they have more freedom and simplicity to share their views which works the same way.
And intertwined with those, we have Van Sant directing the actors, instructing the crew or receiving ideas from cinematographer Harris Savides on how to capture a certain moment of the film, and even we enter the lion's den of the movie, the editing room which was improvised on the school where the film was being shot. All of those moments don't come near the usual behind the scenes we are flooded each time we take a look at many DVD's extras out there. And there's classical music to go along with everything, like in "Elephant".
A delicate and different experience that worths a view. 10/10
Interestingly enough, this behind the scenes documentary following director, cast and crew of "Elephant" destroyed the tired and boring concept of those productions to become a work of art that explores another work of art. Instead of interviews featuring Alex Frost, John Robinson and others explaining the movie and how they loved being part of the production, praising their director, this piece presents a difficult question and the actors, in the best way they can express, try to find possible answers on where does violence comes from (which is the main theme of the film) and why does it happen so often in schools. Bear in mind, the majority of the young actors featured in the film just had their film debut on the screen, so they don't have (and they don't need as well) the eloquence and the fluency of more experience thespians, yet they have more freedom and simplicity to share their views which works the same way.
And intertwined with those, we have Van Sant directing the actors, instructing the crew or receiving ideas from cinematographer Harris Savides on how to capture a certain moment of the film, and even we enter the lion's den of the movie, the editing room which was improvised on the school where the film was being shot. All of those moments don't come near the usual behind the scenes we are flooded each time we take a look at many DVD's extras out there. And there's classical music to go along with everything, like in "Elephant".
A delicate and different experience that worths a view. 10/10