"To make a film about something similar to "events in Columbine" and "not to offer guesses and "explanations" -- it looks in at best meaningless, at worst irresponsible"© The film is based on real events that occurred in 1999 at the Columbine School in Colorado. Then two offended schoolchildren shot and killed 13 people and wounded 37 others. Then they killed themselves.
Gus Van Sant is absolutely unique! To shoot such nonsense, where there is no plot, atmosphere, idea, acting, dialogue and other components of any adequate film and at the same time grab three awards in Cannes, including the two most prestigious - it is expensive! Although it has long been clear that the contingent sits there. Even on the example of the last ceremony, when old Stevie Spielberg was called to chair, despite the fact that he openly declared his open indifference to all sorts of art houses and other author's films. That's how they choose, and "film experts" then drool and shout right and left "Masterpiece!", "Bravo!" and other flattering exclamations.
If you go back to the Elephant, there are not many words. A negligible timekeeping of 1 hour and 15 minutes lasts like endless torture. We are shown teenagers who go somewhere (endless spin plans quickly become annoying), do something and talk about something. They do not cause any interest, so it is extremely difficult to watch all this. I did not turn it off just because I wanted to see the denouement of this “entertaining” action. But it was in vain that I bothered to watch, because the final scene looks so dull and implausible that I even want to cry. To make a film about something similar to the events in Columbine and not offer guesses and explanations is meaningless at best, irresponsible at worst.
As a result, I don't advise anyone. Even the fans of this director, to whom I am quite respectful. Everyone misses. And who is interested in such a topic, I recommend an excellent Estonian "Class", based on the same story.
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P.S. A lot of people scored for Beethoven's great music, but I'm not going to do that. You can film your trip to the bathroom to the music of Wagner, but this content will not get better!
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