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After spending some time in the world of big studio films with Goodwill Hunting, Psycho, and Finding Forrester, Gus Van Sant has firmly returned to more offbeat, experimental territory with his last two films, Gerry and now Elephant, which premiered at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. Not only did the film premiere at Cannes, it took home the Palm d’Or, making it the second year in a row (following Bowling for Columbine) that a film that deals with school violence in the United States has picked up a prize at the venerable French festival.

Van Sant cast a group of public high school students from his hometown of Portland, Oregon in the roles of the students in the film and had them improvise many of the scenes to provide an air of naturalism to the film. He populates the school with various members of the adolescent caste system from the popular football players to the outcasts. A day in the life of the school is shown from different points of view and as the groups intermingle, setting up a tense powder keg, which in this case erupts in violence. (Dan Krovich/BOP)

Vital statistics for Elephant Main Cast Alex Frost, Eric Deulen, John Robinson Supporting Cast Elias McConnell, Jordan Taylor, Carrie Finklea, Nicole George, Timothy Bottoms Director Gus Van Sant Screenwriter Gus Van Sant Distributor Fine Line Features Trailer Click Here for Trailer Official Site http://www.elephantmovie.com/ Rating R Running Time 81 minutes Screen Count 6 Awards Palm d’Or, Cannes Best Director, Cannes Awards page for Elephant Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture