an elephant sitting still (2018): framing oppression

a look at the way the camera is used, and why, in an elephant sitting still, a chinese film from 2018
spoiler warning!
music by hualun
made for educational purposes only
instagram: 24framesyt
additional reading:
faroutmagazine.co.uk/hu-bo-po...
filmmakermagazine.com/107340-...
artasiapacific.com/Blog/Antidi...
www.guernicamag.com/how-to-su...
cinema-scope.com/columns/deat...
• Aliza Ma on AN ELEPHAN...

[@mattsmokes2505]

This movie brings me back to some dark places in my life I don’t like to revisit. That said, it still remains the single most moving and relatable piece of media I’ve ever seen. Im a recovering heroin addict that deals with PTSD and suicidal ideation and I watched this movie at a rehab facility. Looking back at the place I was in, I was hopeless. Completely fucking hopeless putting a gun to my head everyday at the parking lot of work. Poverty and the streets and addiction is such an ugly oppressive dark place to live in. The inhumanity that lives in the heart of the streets just minutes outside of the safety of these locked doors. This movie perfectly captures what it’s like trying to survive at the bottom of the food chain and find meaning when their is none, in a post capitalistic waste land.
Watching this movie for the first time, I felt I wasn’t alone, I wasn’t crazy. That the world around me was what was wrong. That I was just a byproduct of a sick society. The way the film maker crafted this movie, it spoke to me like nothing else has. Like I was seeing the world through his eyes, and it was so similar to the way I saw my world. I felt connected.
But after hearing about the directors fate, it just makes me so god damn incredibly sad and the worse kind of irony. It’s funny, I had no idea of knowing about Bo Hu’s death the first time I viewed the movie as I was in rehab, but after learning about it, it has changed the way I view the movie. I just have to wonder being someone who has dealt with those thoughts and feelings, if viewing this movie would be beneficial or harmful to my mental health. I’m almost 2 years sober now but this movie has stayed with me.

[@skeletalsounds_]

Thanks for sharing man. Also in a battle w addiction myself

[@MrInterestingthings]

Amazed this was shown in a rehab given the very ordinary viewing that is American spectatorship . I'm surprised the medical staff or the people in rehab knw about a Chinese film about oppression .

[@sriharshaa3780]

Beautiful video essay on my favorite film of all time!

[@giniwelle]

Bro u okay?

[@crazyclemsonfan8305]

@@giniwelle Nothing wrong with having this as a favorite.

[@violinsinthevoid4579]

The style of camerawork in this film reminds me of the film Son of Saul about the Somderkommando in Auschwitz, where a lot of the action happens in the background out of focus, while keeping the main character in the foreground in focus. I believe both that director and Bo took inspiration from Bela Tarr, who is a master of long shots and deliberate uses of focus and panning to imply subjectivity.

[@200c5]

Thank you for making this. Absolutely love the movie.

[@joshuahuang9055]

Subscribed! This video essay is brief and fantastic!

[@Rogerlevif]

Best film ever

[@asdfg_98]

Love your essay!

[@yomnaehab300]

Great analysis! Thank you for making this video.

[@moyadark]

Great, great essay. Thanks!

[@crazyclemsonfan8305]

Only one thing I disagree with. You said the experience will be ruined if spoiled. That is absolutely not true at all. Spoilers will have absolutely no effect on the viewing experience and quality of the film. If anything is actually good spoilers won't ruin it.

[@barrymoore4470]

I am happily immune to so-called "spoilers". Learning about this fascinating sounding production before seeing it makes me no less curious to experience it.

[@aheemsosa]

Thank you for this video. It means a lot to me that you understand it the way I do.

[@DebangshuChakrabarti_]

Such a beautiful analysis... Thank you for the video...

[@septonovic]

I need a breath!!!

[@MewenPng]

Love your video. Great stuff

[@aninjaguardian]

Great analysis. An Elephant Sitting Still is a masterpiece of slow cinema

[@Cinefilms_708]

Thank you and love it.

[@maximilienbrichard6546]

great video. Thank you.

[@lynchmobb119]

such a beautiful film

[@darkchocolate2379]

Nice

[@MrInterestingthings]

The director and writer is dead from suicide :we are not sure why he killid himself only that he would certainly not have survived in Holywood UNLESS He made some big and serious psyche changes !!!
? Bela Tarr presented the film in Paris ? Hubo committed suicide and the story is enough to make your tear !