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@starwards1
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How to start reviewing or even trying to get across a work of art that means so much to me and does so much. Talking about this movie to someone who hasn't experienced is hard. There are few films that affect everyone who watches it in different ways. The world is a wasteland, in Hu Bo's 4 hour long journey. It's impossible to disassociate the film with the director Hu Bo's tragic suicide and it shouldn't be dissociated. This movie is in a way, his suicide note and one of the most intimate films of all time. An Elephant Sitting Still grips you into this hopeless atmosphere of nothingness. Existential depression is at the forefront of what the film stands for and it succeeds at overwhelming you.
You feel empty inside after watching it and life seems like a painful repetition of tedious activities. That's what life is like for the characters in this movie. They're tired. They're tired of the everyday grind, tired of their lives and the hardships. The film has a pessimistic take on the world. Writing this review is hard because this film is almost a spiritual experience, it's a melancholic swan song that moved me to tears, it's honest and really difficult, immersive experience. I've almost never felt closer to fictional characters before and that's because the film is grounded in showing us the lives of the people in the Chinese city of Shijiazhuang. An Elephant Sitting Still washes over you with gloom and angst, devoid of care for the betterment of lives. It's bleak and sort of accepts fate. The philosophy of the film is that life is not worth living but it's not just a statement by the director that life sucks, accept it, the film is character driven and hopes to depict the lives of its characters in a sympathetic way and probably does it better than 99% of movies out there.
The film follows 4 characters' journey throughout one single day, as they deal with everything coming their way physically and psychologically It's a true storytelling miracle as we get to see how their stories intertwine and lead up to a conclusion that.. cannot be put in words. It's four hours long, yes but every second has some emotional weight attached to it and looking away was impossible. I didn't even notice that four hours had flown by but at the same time it felt like I'd lived their lives. Some films just connect to people personally, An Elephant Sitting Still is one of those that did with me, it's a film about this generation and adapting to modern society, there are bits of social commentary slightly sprinkled throughout the film and it's bold and brilliant. It's easy to relate to the anxiety for the future the characters have as well as their complicated personal relationships. On top of that there is a riveting mystery set up with an engaging conflict.
And this is also one of those movies that due to the sheer perfection of the craft of filmmaking, makes me want to make my own. The grey and dark blue cinematography emphasizes the depressive mood of the film, it's minimal but powerful. The composition too is just amazing, there are so many shots here that I love, and I love how the cinematography expounds on the themes of loneliness communicating it visually. The long takes are absolutely amazing and also help build the atmosphere further. The acting is so realistic to the point where I legitimately thought they were playing themselves. The score is pure euphoria and I've rarely seen such great pacing with movies that are this long.
Now even though this film is nihilistic it has a spark of hope. The film is about a journey, summarized by this quote- "There is an elephant in Manzhouli. It sits there all day long. Perhaps some people keep stabbing it with forks. Or maybe it just enjoys sitting there. I don’t know." First off, I took the elephant as symbolism for how nothing ever changes and how life.. It remains the same, but to the characters it gives them hope. It's not about the destination really, but more so the journey. A journey for new beginnings. A hope for a better life. I will NOT spoil the ending, but all I'll say is it left me speechless, stunned and in mixed feelings for days. An Elephant Sitting Still is one of the few movies worthy of the title of "masterpiece" and someday I wish it will get the love it deserves. Rest in Peace Hu Bo.
By @starwards1
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