Elephant (2003) in Real Time

In this project, I have decided to synchronize four different perspectives of the moments before the tragic event in Gus Van Sant's Elephant (2003).
Comparing the shots side-by-side reveals noticeable continuity errors, but more importantly, demonstrates Gus Van Sant's precision and attention to detail. While the perspectives of John, Eli, and Michelle match each other for the most part, the perspective of the shooters does not whatsoever.
The only way for the criminals' perspective to make sense would be if time inside the school stops at some point between the shooters' arrival and their entrance into the library. There could be a thematic justification for this. The shooters meander around in a purgatorial time that can not possibly exist before they begin shooting the students.
With the exception of the aforementioned time freeze, this video presents the perspectives uncut, rather than altered to match. I decided to use the dialog "Hey, Eli!" as the point of synchronization for the perspectives of Eli, John, and Michelle. I decided to use the slow-mo shot of the dog jumping in the air as the point of time freeze inside the library. Black screens represent the estimated time of the temporal ellipses between cuts.
In 2007, a KZbinr uploaded a video of the same concept. They chose to omit the scenes to make the timeline work, but failed to take the points of temporal ellipses and the slow-mo dog jump into account.
Edited by Jane Brown
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Filmography:
► Elephant. 2003. Dir. Gus Van Sant.
Season 3, Episode 3

[@styleissubstance]

Comparing the shots side-by-side reveals noticeable continuity errors, but more importantly, demonstrates Gus Van Sant's precision and attention to detail. While the perspectives of John, Eli, and Michelle match each other for the most part, the perspective of the shooters does not whatsoever. The only way for the shooters' perspective to make sense would be if time inside the school stops at some point between the shooters' arrival and their entrance into the library. There could be a thematic justification for this. The shooters meander around in a purgatorial time that can not possibly exist before they begin shooting the students. With the exception of the aforementioned time freeze, this video presents the perspectives uncut, rather than altered to match. I decided to use the dialog "Hey, Eli!" as the point of synchronization for the perspectives of Eli, John, and Michelle. I decided to use the slow-mo shot of the dog jumping in the air as the point of time freeze inside the library. Black screens represent the estimated time of the temporal ellipses between cuts.

[@fanuluiciorannr1xd212]

There could be many explanations for this . Like they all dead or they are all remembering stuff diferently . The shots are a memory tied to each character . It could also show how little sense time makes for it to be constant for everyone .

[@marksinger2360]

The only really obvious mismatch I saw was the actions of the dog, and that's something that couldn't be controlled. I'd love to hear Van Sant talk about the choices made when this was edited.

[@noise6327]

You are a genius

[@algocursi2564]

Even though I love that theory, I think the easy answer is the right one. They're simply continuity errors. And that's fine. I have that same feeling about Zack Snyder's 300. It's supposed to be a satire but it doesn't try enough. People make mistakes, but your theory is still pretty great. Maybe if the movie referenced about Dante's Divine Comedy or something like that it would be right your theory. Anyway, incredible movie. Edit: I think now that the continuity errors are intentional or lucky mistakes. For the fact that we don't know exactly what happen or why it happened. But still the thing about them getting so fast to where Michelle is I think still kinda bothering.

[@wangaustin508]

how is this filmed ? where are the cameraman

[@wintoster]

The film conveys the atmosphere of the fact that "it should be an ordinary day."

[@cineflect]

The first (and only) time I saw this film the inconsistent timelines really bothered me. I chalked it up to lazy continuity without affording Van Sant the benefit of artistic expression and liberty. Time is objective, but our individual experiences are subjective. Seeing it like this actually helps put that in perspective. Worthwhile experiment. Thanks for sharing.

[@petercaulfield5065]

I love how the honest expression of one stranger expanding their consciousness can help another do the same as has happened to me just now so thanks.

[@arnoldpuodenas8221]

Phenomenology

[@frest_68]

bars?

[@sidtandy4333]

It so soothing yet unerving to see people do long walk shots when you know they may head into something nasty. Van Sant got that from Alan Clarke among other inspirations.

[@corinarose_]

This is actually so cool, I was wondering how can the movie be 80 min if the shooting scene was only 12 min ? I guess this clears it up

[@corinarose_]

@G 84 I never watched the movie and I thought it was cool that they edited it in "real time" , if you see everyone else's comments they are saying its a cool idea so that's what I said : )

[@corinarose_]

@G 84 sorry for the misunderstanding

[@Kellystella97]

Wasn’t it obvious..all pov’s beside eachother

[@corinarose_]

@@Kellystella97 are you replying to my comment or the other persons ?

[@gwarfan1994]

Jesus Christ you’re delusional

[@matty6878]

i figured this was what the director was going for. i can appreciate the idea and can overlook its not 1/1 in sync - you would most certainly need to make all cameras long shoot and a very clever way to make sure none appear in the shot.

[@Pancakeshouse85]

This is very interesting. I never noticed before the sync was off. It still doesn't really matter to me or affect the way I watch the film. Still, thanks for posting. This was an interesting watch.

[@noise6327]

Very

[@somewhatdweeb5194]

What about the segment with the three girls in the cafeteria? They see John outside the cafeteria window with the dog.

[@anantambisht4895]

Then they go to washroom to puke and then meanwhile the killers have already enetered school and boom

[@federgunn5973]

Good point!!!

[@matty6878]

@@anantambisht4895 yeah then they get shot too

[@FloorManiac]

Thanks dude, you cut the length of the movie in half basically. I think the inconsistencies in timing are fixed by the viewer assuming that the characters out of picture are doing something else. Like where Michelle first arrives in the library. One could assume she was there the whole time replacing books, rather than standing still like a statue.

[@mr.womack3638]

Bro I always play scenarios like this in my head and I try to act like I would have sucker punched the kids and tried to steal their bags before they got into the school. But in the moment I’m more likely to react the way the blonde kid did

[@jacobm92]

john reacted the same way anybody would. youre not going after people who are clearly armed

[@Fritzsche-ki6gv]

no one truly will understand

[@rajahbitancor8960]

Duality of man

[@deadpooh3552]

You've made this film 10000000x better. Thank you.

[@SpitefulAZ]

oh, I was expecting to see the rest of it :O really cool idea!

[@ZeroComplaints]

Would love something to this measure to be replicated for 'Polytechnique'

[@poshugh]

Oh diablos, gracias por hacer esta comparación. Me ha resultado muy interesante.

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

I’m shocked by how many errors there are that were completely unnoticeable in the edited film. (Edited for clarity).

[@styleissubstance]

That's filmmaking. This video is just exposing the artifice. I decided to synchronize at "Hey, Eli!" but there may have been other points that would also work.

[@justinpipes85]

Wasnt this whole film shot on miniDV with a shoestring budget. They aren't continuity errors. The "errors" represent how everyone remembers events differently.

[@ambskater97]

What a boring way to look at a film.

[@EastAsianCinemaHistory]

MasterBerry I never said it made the film bad - as when I watched it, it all seemed pretty coherent.

[@blacktoothfox677]

@@EastAsianCinemaHistory I'm shocked by how many armchair-director philistines there are, but hey... its the world we live in, iiwii.

[@myblueself2738]

This is really interesting! Thanks!

[@saladman2003]

Van sant Film Is actually More In depth of a school Massacre, Unlike Zero Day (That movie is dull As Hell) Where it only shows the POV Of the Shooters, Not the victims, Unlike Van Sant, Elephant Is Just More In Depth.

[@yorkshire_tea6875]

A freind kept bugging me to watch this film with them. He fell asleep 20 or so minutes in

[@getmeouttahere3595]

The actor who plays that camera kid looks a lot like the real eric

[@daroachdoggjr188]

Ah, good ol reccomended video section. ❤

[@renazoe9305]

Very good work indeed, thanks!

[@noise6327]

THIS IS SO COOL. I NEEDED KZbin WHEN THIS MOVIE 1 ST CAME OUT. WTF.

[@nyssalikesbugs]

i think the differences were intentional. survivors of columbine all remember slightly different things being said or done in slightly different orders.

[@yourwitsaboutyou]

You could add the scene of the 3 girls because they look out the window right after the dog jumps we learn Johnny is the owner of the dog and the girls inside know him. Blooper bc when the friends look out the cafeteria window and if the timing was correct you would see the shooters walk in as well.

[@styleissubstance]

If I were to update this, how do you suppose I add on a fifth split screen?

[@SubZero-hs9xc]

Thank you

[@cwabah]

And look where we are now.....

[@I_like_turtles_67]

The government cooking the school shooting numbers to justify unconstitutional gun confiscation. Meanwhile, the politicians private schools, government buildings & banks have armed security.

[@flashkraft]

LOL. They could not get the dog the act the same way. Other than that the clips match up very well.

[@Carebearpearlsalt]

Ok thank you for this I’m gonna go watch the movie

[@StarionVR]

This movie was definitely based off of Colombine, 2 shooters, first location is the library, first victim is a girl.

[@jerry6804]

No shower scene???

[@failbrownie]

It makes the concept of the film easier to reach since it could be very triggering to me 😮 thanks for this brian de palma like edit it's great !

[@nonsilentartichoke4210]

this is so interesting

[@arch_dornan6066]

The best Palm D'Or winner of them all. Tree of Life is close though

[@leolopez4931]

The yellow shirt kid, that is the most luckiest day he ever has experience

[@maltheartistme]

disgusting fact: there are people who idolize the columbine shooters. they have their own community (no, im not in any of these communities)

[@jackytran7818]

The death trilogy

[@metqllica]

Wo

[@rosahuaikil2830]

Hola a y ñññ

[@samecuh]

cctv's be like:

[@PaoloSantangelo]

,,,,,,,FA PRATICAMENTE SCHIFO ,,,,

[@philippebeauchamp2827]

So many errors it triggers my OCD. And I don't even have OCD

[@mrwerewolf7855]

So it didn't trigger your ocd

[@admiralman1472]

This movie was so stupid.

[@StJude-ef1mf]

The concept of this movie really happened in real life. Fuck you.

[@blacktoothfox677]

This comment was so stupid

[@admiralman1472]

@@StJude-ef1mf No shit. What's that got to do with the execution of the movie?

[@mzd2breath735]

what? ^^ zzzzz

[@bray7934]

@@StJude-ef1mf I really liked the movie but thats a shitty argument. Dunking on a shitty movie like Pearl Harbor is fair, and people who like that movie can't say "oh it happened in real life" as an counter argument. Again, I liked the movie a lot, but your comeback is wack as fuck.

[@IIIVI]

So this is why that ready or not map is called Elephant

[@Rockhopper1]

its named after a saying by a politician in Northern Ireland who called the terrorist violence the elephant in the room, Alan Clarke then released a film showing thirty or so murders and it was called Elephant.

[@sexhaver6953]

this is so. fucking. cool.