Elephant (2003)
Coming Out at 3 October 2003 in theaters.
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Elephant is drama film written, directed, and edited by Gus Van Sant. It takes place in the fictional Watt High School, in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, and chronicles the events surrounding a school shooting, based in part on 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 or non-professional actors, including John Robinson, Alex Frost, and Eric Deulen.
Elephant is the second film in Van Sant’s “Death Trilogy”—the first is Gerry (2002) and the third Last Days (2005)—all three of which are based on actual events.
Mr. McFarland is driving erratically down a residential street on the way to drop off his son John. John notices damage to the car and realizes that his father is drunk, so John instructs him to move to the passenger seat and let him drive.
Alex and Eric are bullied at school by the so-called jocks, one of whom diverts a teacher and throws a spitball at Alex during science class. Later, Alex and Eric are shown at home ordering weapons from a website and receiving a rifle in the mail. While Alex is taking a shower, Eric gets in with him. He claims that he has never been kissed, and the two kiss. The two formulate an attack plan. The next day, Alex and Eric prepare for the shooting, then make their way to school in silence in Alex’s car.
Director: Gus Van Sant
Writer: Gus Van Sant
Stars: Elias McConnell, Alex Frost, Eric Deulen, John Robinson, Jordan Taylor
Cast:
| 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 |
| Chantelle Chriestenson Nelson | … | Noelle |
| Kim Kenney | … | Assistant Principal’s Secretary |
| Marci Buntrock | … | Assistant Secretary |
| Phillipp 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 | … | GSA Student |
| Joseph Sackett | … | GSA Student |
| Jason Seitz | … | GSA Victim |
| Shanti Cho | … | Student in Darkroom |
| Spencer Callahan | … | Student in Darkroom |
| Theara Sao | … | Eli’s Friend |
| Tiana Woods | … | Eli’s Classmate |
| Griffin Goins | … | Football Player |
| Maxim Horner | … | Football Player |
| Thomas Trullinger | … | Football Player |
| Ty Schwoeffermann | … | Football Player |
| Ray Monge | … | Janitor |
| William S. Burroughs | … | Voice (text excerpts) (voice) (archive sound) |
| Adolf Hitler | … | Self (archive footage) |
| Iva Maria Juric | … | Preppy Student |
| Mahdad Rezaujan | … | Student |
| Brandon Sills | … | Student with Guitar |
| Mason Weiss | … | Student on Skateboard |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia