Elephant

Gus van sant's "elephant"

You about to watch director Gus Van Sant’s film Elephant. This film has a mature theme. Read over the questions below before watching. Answer the questions below on a separate sheet of paper.

What is your personal opinion of this film? Explain using specific details.
Why do you think the director Gus Van Sant gave this film the title Elephant?
Why was the pacing of this film so slow? Why did it spend so much time following students as they engaged in their mundane daily activities?
Choose 4 specific camera angles / shots used in this film and discuss how you think they affected the storytelling.
Does the movie offer the motives of the shooters? If so, what were they? If not, why do you think they were omitted?
What greater point, if any, do you think the director was trying to make about school violence by filming this movie the way he did?

LINKS TO CRITICAL REVIEWS

https://tribecafilm.com/stories/elephant-gus-van-sant-gun-violence-mass-shootings-analysis-michael-moore-nra

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2003/10/the_kids_in_the_hall.html

http://www.film-philosophy.com/index.php/f-p/article/viewFile/262/863