An Elephant Sitting Still (2018)

DVD CASE/SIDE

Length of film:  230 Minutes (Uncut: 234 Minutes)

Rated: 12

Genre: Drama, Crime

Director: Bo Hu

Starring: Yu Zhang, Yuchang Peng, Uvin Wang, Zi Xi, Xiangrong Dong, Yanmanzi Zhu

IMDB Rank: 7.8/10

Part 1 Time:  N/A Minutes (Uncut: 149 Minutes)

Part 2 Time:  N/A Minutes (Uncut: 85 Minutes)

***The film is meant to be watched in a single sitting, but can be challenging due to its long runtime.

Where does the first part end? Yu Cheng (Yu Zhang) speaks with Manzi Zhuyan (Yanmanzi Zhu) in a tunnel about the events that have happened in the early morning.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Cut the crap,” Yu Cheng replies following Manzi asking him whether he is leaving with her or not.

First line of dialogue on the second part: The scene begins with Wei Bu (Yuchang Peng) standing outside of a building, A minute into the scene, Wei Bu makes a call on his cellphone stating “You need to do me a favor.”

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal/Somewhat, as each character transverses through Shijiazhuang, it does not seem that any of them will overcome their unique struggles.

Which part is better? The film is a slower burner, with many drawn out scenes with long pacing between character dialogue. But the film has lots to offer and is very rewarding to patient film goers as it gives a glimpse of poverty and struggle that is faced by many. Part two is better as each protagonist attempts to accept their bleak situations, but are ultimately brought to the same desire to see the mysterious elephant at Manzhouli.

Academy Awards: None