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An Elephant Sitting Still

2018·Movie
3h 50min
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Metacritic868.0Rotten Tomatoes94%77%
IMDb7.8Metacritic868.0Rotten Tomatoes94%77%

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KanopyFandorOVIDAsianCrush

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An Elephant Sitting Still fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Violence4
  • Scare3

Heart

Profoundly sad and deeply moving

  • Melancholy10
  • Pathos9
  • Catharsis7

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor5
  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Cringe Humor2

World

Everyday modern life, society, and class and money

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion9
  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • Ambiguity7

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction9
  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9

Style

Standout cinematography and editing

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing8
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Find more like it

Suspense moviesPsychological moviesMelancholic moviesAtmospheric movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

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.
Bleak Social RealismSlow-Burn TragedyChinese Indie CinemaExistential DespairMoral DecayCharacter-Driven NarrativePhilosophicalDepressingSocial Critique

Crew

Directed by:
Hu Bo, Xiaoyan Zhou
Written by:
Hu Bo
Produced by:
Wang Xiaoshuai, Xuan Liu, Dongyan Fu
Composed by:
Lou Kun, Lou Kun, Sam Fan

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about An Elephant Sitting Still

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream An Elephant Sitting Still legally?

KanopyFandorOVIDAsianCrushCineverse

An Elephant Sitting Still is included with a subscription to Fandor, OVID, and AsianCrush in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Cineverse. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, and Apple TV Store. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is An Elephant Sitting Still worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84/100 (IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 94%, and Metacritic 86). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is An Elephant Sitting Still rated?

ViolenceSuicide themesDisturbing imagery

Content advisories: violence, suicide themes, and disturbing imagery.

How long is An Elephant Sitting Still?

3 h 50 min

An Elephant Sitting Still runs 3 h 50 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on An Elephant Sitting Still?

Critics90
Audiences78

Not quite. Critics rate An Elephant Sitting Still higher (90) than audiences (78). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

What language is An Elephant Sitting Still in?

Chinese

It was made in Chinese. Produced in China.

In how many countries can I watch An Elephant Sitting Still?

13AUBEBRCAFRGBGGHKIEJPKRNLUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for An Elephant Sitting Still in 13 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does An Elephant Sitting Still use?

Extremely Short TimespanAlas, Poor VillainNot Helping Your CaseBig Brother Instinct

TV Tropes lists 4 storytelling tropes for An Elephant Sitting Still, including Extremely Short Timespan, Alas, Poor Villain, Not Helping Your Case.