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An Elephant Sitting Still

Name: An Elephant Sitting Still
Genre: Drama
Released: 2018-12-14
Duration: 230 min
Rating: 7.7

★ 7,7 /10 (238 Votes)

2018 ZH 230 min

Overview

In the northern Chinese city of Manzhouli, they say there is an elephant that simply sits and ignores the world. Manzhouli becomes an obsession for the protagonists of this film, a longed-for escape from the downward spiral in which they find themselves.

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Release date

14/12/2018

Votes

238

Popularity

2.8

Genres

Drama

Status

Released

Original title

大象席地而坐

Language

Runtime

230 min

Budget

$2,500,000

Website

www.kimstim.com

Peng Yuchang

Wei Bu

Wang Yuwen

Huang Ling

Zhang Yu

Yu Cheng

Li Congxi

Wang Jin

No photo

Zhenghui Ling

Li Kai

No photo

Xiaolong Zhang

Yu Shuai

No photo

Li Danyi

Wang Jin's Daughter

No photo

Kong Wei

Wang Jin's Son-in-Law

No photo

Kong Yixin

Wang Jin's Granddaughter

Wang Chaobei

Yu Cheng's Friend

Wang Xueyang

Wife of Yu Cheng's Friend

Zhu Yanmanzi

Yu Cheng's Lover

Zhaoyan Guozhang

Wei Bu's Father

Li Suyun

Wei Bu's Mother

No photo

Huang Ximan

White Dog's Female Owner

No photo

Li Qing

White Dog's Male Owner

No photo

He Miaomiao

Mother of Yu Cheng's Friend

No photo

Li Binyuan

Scalper

No photo

Shunzi

Yu Cheng's Mother

Xiangrong Dong

Dean

Zhang Shuai

Yu Cheng's Sidekick 1

No photo

Zhou Yinglong

Yu Cheng's Sidekick 2

No photo

Zhao Weimin

Yu Cheng's Sidekick 3

No photo

Hao Shimin

Yu Cheng's Sidekick 4

No photo

Chang Wukui

Man Burning Garbage

No photo

Liu Xiaohui

Restaurant Female Owner

No photo

Zhu Jianliang

Middle-aged Man

No photo

Zhang Jinzhong

Strong Old Man

No photo

Li Hongmei

Card-playing Woman

No photo

Liu Jianmin

Wei Bu's Uncle

No photo

3502 tenant

Wei Bu's Grandmother

No photo

Ember Yu

Pool Room Receptionist

No photo

Zhang Zhouqiang

Restaurant Chef

No photo

Wang Gang

Yu Cheng's Father

No photo

Wang Longlong

Scalper's Accomplice

No photo

Gao Xuepeng

Mop Boy

No photo

Ma Heping

Shuttlecock-kicking Man

No photo

Yan Hao

Ballet Class Student

No photo

Zhao Shihui

Li Xiaoli

Wang Ning

Huang Ling's Mother

No photo

Liu Xiwen

Taxi Driver

No photo

He Lei

Bus Driver

No photo

Jing Guo

Dean's Wife

郝贵祥

群演

Original Soundtrack

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What a masterpiece!! The story reflects director Hu's own view on life / value / situation. Those main charters finally found their own dream elephant at the end of the story, so surprised and comfort. However, it's very sad to hear that this young and talent director committed suicide before the movie gets prizes in few months advanced. Hu's own dream elephant appears after his death. He should have just stood for months longer. Poverty contributes to the movie and also ends his life. A regretful irony.

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I’ll admit to some trepidation when I sat down to watch almost four hours of what could have been a (very) still life about an elephant sitting still! Instead, it’s not really anything to do with an actual pachyderm but more a collection of stories involving four young citizens of Manzhouli. This isn’t a place where very much happens and the opportunities available to these folks aren’t really any more appealing than they were to their parents, or maybe even their’s too. “Bu” (Yuchang Peng) snaps after constantly being bullied at school; “Ling” (Uvin Wang) goes to the same school, only she’s d…

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An Elephant Sitting Still is a deeply philosophical film by Hu Bo that explores profound despair through the interconnected lives of four troubled individuals seeking escape from their painful realities. Despite its nearly four-hour runtime and slow pacing, the film delivers a raw, emotional narrative with powerful performances and a haunting atmosphere, though the cinematography and ambiguous ending may leave some viewers unsatisfied. The tragic story behind its creation—Hu Bo’s suicide following creative conflicts—adds a heartbreaking layer to this already melancholic masterpiece. Read th…

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