"Elephant" Gus Van Sant and Harris Savvides take on the challenge of realism and ultimate minimalism. What is the world-recognized “Death Trilogy”?

"Elephant" synopsis

High school in Portland, Oregon. John notices that his father, who dropped him off at school, is drunk and calls his brother to come pick him up. Eli, a member of the photography club, was photographing a couple walking in the park. Nathan, a football club member, meets up with his girlfriend after practice. It seemed like a normal day, but the high school turns into the scene of a horrifying tragedy.

Index

• “Death Trilogy”
• One scene, one cut, long take
• Contribution of Harris Savvides
• Columbine High School shooting incident
• Complex case background

“Death Trilogy”

The film ``Elephant'' (2003) won both the Palme d'Or and Best Director at the 56th Cannes Film Festival, but it stands out in many ways. It is a semi-fiction film based on a mass shooting incident that actually occurred in the United States, has a meaningful title, is short at 81 minutes, has a nearly square angle of view, has unusually long takes, uses amateur actors, and has a dramatic character. The production eliminates all the production elements that are said to be cinematic, such as the lack of catharsis.

Gus Van Sant won the director's award for his challenging approach. He has continued to make unique films centered around Portland in the United States, such as ``Drugstore Cowboy'' (1989) and ``My Own Private Idaho'' (1991), but since then ``Good Will Hunting'' (1997) ), and returned to experimental and small-scale production with ``GERRY'' (2002), making him a rare person who is able to consistently produce despite many ups and downs.

"GERRY" preview

His works often depict the tragicomedies of Outsider who don't fit in with common sense with humor and a warm perspective, and he has many loyal fans for his emotional style that gives a sense of the easy-going nature of a vast country and American youth culture.

However, this film occupies a special position in the director's filmography. The three works, including the two before and after this work, ``GERRY'' and ``Last Days'' (2005), have been announced as the ``Death Trilogy'', and although the content is different, the themes and The methods are being standardized. ``GERRY'' is about the incident in which two young men got lost in the New Mexico desert and only one survived, ``Elephant'' is about the Columbine High School shooting, and ``Last Days'' is about the end of the late Kurt Cobain. is a story about the death of young people that occurs as an extension of everyday life, and is based on a true story that happened in America.

One scene, one cut, long take