Elephant (1989)
In 1989, Alan Clarke depicted the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland by loosely recreating a series of random killings based on actual murders based on the prejudices regarding religion and politics. One side was Catholic and typically pro-IDA and making a unified Ireland, while the others were Protestant and pro-UDA in support of maintaining the union of the UK. Clarke set out to depict these killings as plainly as possible. There is no plot, no structure, no narrative, 18 killings, 3 lines of dialogue, and no score in 39 minutes. The whole film is shot with a steady cam, which follows the haunting purposeful footsteps as the walk away from their murders. The film is intense and unique to say the least. The film took its title from Bernard MacLaverty’s description of the troubles as “the elephant in our living room.”
found via Dangerous Minds
Posted: Monday, November 15th, 2010 @ 5:00 pm
Categories: news.
Tags: 1989, alan clarke, BBC, bernard, catholic, Dangerous Minds, Elephant, IDA, killing, maclaverty, Made in Britain, narrative, no, northern ireland, plot, politics, protestant, Scum, structure, UDA, UK.