‘Elephant’ is a perfect example of Todorov’s equilibrium model. His model suggested that every film would have three stages: equilibrium, disruption, new equilibrium. These sequential events can be clearly seen in ‘Elephant’. We see a quite normal day with students attending their lessons in a school; everything seems perfectly normal. However, the disruption happens and the equilibrium is damaged. Therefore, in the end, we have a new equilibrium that restores past events and opens a new chapter for the movie world and the audience.
Levi Strauss’ theory of binary oppositions can also be linked to ‘Elephant’ very smoothly. This theory states that in every movie there are binary oppositions for the effects to be achieved and the storyline to flow; for example: life and death, light and darkness, good and evil. All these binary oppositions can be applied to ‘Elephant’. I believe it is also essential to show these oppositions in a movie like this by Van Sant, in order to achieve the dramatic effect on the audience: for example, ‘life & death’; lots of innocent people die, the reasons maybe ambiguous but we always question the ‘good & evil’.
The events which occur in the movie happen in a sequential order; there are no flashbacks or cross cutting into non-chronological scenes; everything is in a chronological order from the start to the end. The film also has a closed narrative; the ending is quite clear and the aftermath can be guessed as it is based on a true story. (columbine high school massacre which occurred in 1999) However, the narrative is restricted until the very end; this is an expected convention of a thriller genre. If the audience didn’t know about the fact that the film is based on a real life massacre, then they would have had a very difficult time guessing what everything was leading to. Hence, the narrative is very restricted until the end where the quite cathartic events take place.
The characters are typical of its genre as we see students in a high school campus who are generally different individually, but stereotypically, are portrayed in an expected way. For example, Alex’s and Eric’s body language, way of speaking and facial expression and behaviour does stand out from the rest of the students in the film. The other students are quite happy, upbeat and just pleased to be at school. However, like in every school, not all of them are like this as we have characters such as John who isn’t quite lively due to his complications. Going back to my point, Alex and Eric clearly stand out from everyone else. They are getting bullied in the first scenes. This maybe a reason to why everything happens but it clearly does have an effect on them and they look very isolated, depressed and sad. They cling onto each other carry out everything themselves. Some of the close viewing shots show their faces and the absolute depression and helplessness could be clearly seen in their eyes and this is reflected perfectly to the audience by Van Sant. Because of what they go through, and the fact that they only have each other and clearly have a bond which they don’t have with anyone also reflects their behaviour and they also don’t interact with anyone else: they are quite rude to some of the students in the movie and even the teachers. Their mysterious, sad, isolated and depressed behaviour, body language and facial expressions are very typical of a drama and a thriller genre as we feel sympathetic towards them and also wonder what they’re going to be doing.
The costumes, hair and make-up of the characters in the movie are quite typical and expectant of a normal teenager/student. However, Alex and Eric’s costumes tend to be darker. This is typical of the genre as wearing dark colours which represent unpleasantness may connote the ‘darkness’ which they are going to bring upon everyone later on. The props used; such as the guns and bombs are very typical of its genre: it’s one of the unmistakable props which the drama and (especially) thriller genre has. Furthermore, these costumes and props worn and used by the main characters are very typical, negative and stereotypical representation of their age and gender. This is because as we already know about the gun crimes which is very common in America and with especially young male teenagers.
The representation of the characters’ age, gender and ethnicity in this movie is quite stereotypical, negative and sometimes even exaggerated and hegemonic. However, we do have to take in to account the fact that this movie is based on true events and it does do a real good job in representing what had happened at columbine on that day. Therefore, the representation of these characters are quite realist. However, if we watched the movie without knowing the fact that it’s based on true events, we would know that these characters are portrayed in a negative, stereotypical, exaggerated way as students maybe reckless, careless and cruel but not this such and certainly not most of them.
The storyline is somewhat typical of its genre. As I mentioned, the bullying towards Alex and Eric is quite saddening and makes us feel sympathetic towards their isolated situation. Feeling sympathetic and emphatic is always present in drama movies. There’s also a build-up, especially after the guns are seen by the audience, (when Alex orders them) which leaves the audience guessing as they know that something is going to happen, but are not sure (restricted narrative.) However, because of its restriction and quite slowly paced beginning, the movie does stand out and is an art on its own.
The sound which is constant in the movie is typical of its genre. There are many sound types: diegetic/non-diegetic, parallel sound and sound bridge. There are typical diegetic sounds such as dialogues and noises from the story world e.g. phone ringing. Non-diegetic sounds are very typical of these genres as they add effect and emphasise the scenes which are occurring. For example, a sad song playing during a dramatic scene makes it more sympathetic and is very typical of a drama genre. There are also parallel sounds during the shooting scene: such as high tension music playing when Alex and Eric are shooting. Sound bridge has also been used: when Eric and Alex are shooting in the corridors, the scene abruptly changes into a different scene with an injured student who is shouting. The noise of the guns and shouting creates a sound bridge and adds a very dramatic effect.
There are a number of shots and angles used in the movie, especially, in the shooting scene. The cinematography of Van Sant’s movie is absolutely astonishing and in my opinion, is the strongest aspect to why the movie is quite effective. The tracking shots, long & medium shots, high angle & low angle, pans, tilts, whips are amazingly done.
Whilst Alex and Eric are on their shooting rampage, the tracking shots used to follow them builds the tension of the film as the audience is engaged and are fixated on them to see what’s going to happen next. There’s a scene during the massacre which Benny’s (a student) shot is seen, and we see one Eric’s victims and Eric at the end of the corridor with a long shot. Again, this builds tension as the audience is left to watch the movie in a shot with an innocent and venerable character that is completely oblivious to what’s going on.
This is also quite typical of a thriller genre. High angle & low angle shots are quite effective as well. When Eric is bullied, he’s pushed on to the floor and he’s seen quite vulnerable and weak; this is shown in a high angle shot and emphasises on the state he was in. However, during the shooting scene, when they shoot students and they ask them not to, Eric is shown with a low angle shot: this shows him in a higher status and in a much stronger position as opposed to the beginning of the movie.
The whip pans used in the movie shows the high tension of the scene and keeps the audience engaged. During the shooting scene, the close ups, extreme close ups emphasise on what the specific elements Van Sant wanted his audience to see for example, when Alex and Eric are bullied, there are close ups to their faces and you could see the sadness, anger and vulnerability quite clearly. All these shots are very cleverly done and also, are very typical of a drama/thriller genre.
The editing is another strong aspect of ‘Elephant’. Yes, the shots are brilliantly done, however, they had to be cut and edited in order to achieve the effect which this movie has upon you. Again, many of the editing is done at the end of the movie; when the shooting rampage is happening. The jump cuts during the shooting scene are highly effective and typical of its genre as it is constantly building the tension and creates continuity. The use of cross-cutting is also present as during the shooting scenes, it abruptly changes into a very different and in contrast, calm and peaceful scene. This is quite useful as it shows the contrast of the scenes and represents binary oppositions in a very clear manner.
Shot-reverse-shots are used nearly in every scene, especially the slow paced beginning with many dialogues. Graphic match is also used, for example when the students are walking in one scene; another shot is seen with different students walking. This also is typical of a drama genre as it shows the normal, everyday life type of behaviour. Shadow focus and deep focus is also used in the editing style to emphasise on specific elements of a scene.
The setting is typical of its drama genre as it shot in a school and this has an effect as it is in a real life setting which we all are or has attended. The props used such as guns, bombs and bags are very typical of both drama and thriller genre as props such as these will cause destruction and will cause negative, sad and sympathetic ending to the storyline. Also, bags are typical of the thriller genre as it disguises what the audience is restricted from seeing, however, taking it out from it, causes the tension and releases effective and cathartic feelings.
The lighting used in the movie is always quite natural and represents a typical normal day of school with natural setting. Again, the natural lighting used represents the drama genre as it is quite authentic. In the beginning of the movie, Alex and Eric are positioned at the back of the shot/frame. However, once they are shooting and have that power which they never had over everyone else, they are positioned at the very front of the frame. Also, when we see Alex and Eric from the point of view of students on the floor, they are shown to be quite powerful, big and epic. Again, this is typical of the drama and thriller genre as it makes us feel sympathetic and creates tension and action.
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