Hu Bo's An Elephant Sitting Still is a film steeped in philosophical contemplation, examining intense feelings of hopelessness through the experiences of four characters each grappling with difficult circumstances and longing for an exit from their suffering. Even though it runs close to four hours and unfolds at a deliberate pace, the movie presents a visceral and affecting story, supported by strong acting and a pe…

I had some reservations going into nearly four hours about what seemed like an elephant just standing still! However, it turns out the film isn’t really about an actual elephant but more of a series of stories centered around four young people living in Manzhouli. It's not exactly a place where much excitement happens and the prospects for these individuals don't seem any better than what their parents had, or even t…

This is an incredible work! The narrative seems to mirror director Hu’s personal perspective on existence, worth, and circumstances. Seeing the central characters ultimately locate their own dream elephant by the story's conclusion was both unexpected and deeply moving. It’s truly heartbreaking to learn that this promising young director passed away before the film received recognition just a few months later. Hu’…