The Troubles in Northern Ireland inspired a lot films and dramas. Some more controversial than others.
Alan Clarke's Elephant was totally left field. When the BBC broadcast it, they were inundated with complaints on television programs such as 'Points of View.'
Never before we had a television drama, almost wordless where one person shoots another person, a few minutes later someone else shoots another and so on and so on.
Be they working in a petrol station, in a swimming pool, playing football, eating in a restaurant, at home or walking in the park, someone blasts them.
These horrific random acts of violence in due course desensitizes us to the violence. Maybe even render us bored and confused.
Without dialogue we are unsure as to what is happening and just seeing people walking about until they take a gun out and shoot somebody.
Alan Clarke was an early adopter of the Steadicam for television work which means we follow the various people out and about as the camera operator is alongside them.
This was one of Clarke's last works. He died a year later. Seeing Elephant again when the film is almost 25 years old, I was struck that this is now a period piece.
Northern Ireland has moved on since the peace process of the 1990s.
Alan Clarke's Elephant was totally left field. When the BBC broadcast it, they were inundated with complaints on television programs such as 'Points of View.'
Never before we had a television drama, almost wordless where one person shoots another person, a few minutes later someone else shoots another and so on and so on.
Be they working in a petrol station, in a swimming pool, playing football, eating in a restaurant, at home or walking in the park, someone blasts them.
These horrific random acts of violence in due course desensitizes us to the violence. Maybe even render us bored and confused.
Without dialogue we are unsure as to what is happening and just seeing people walking about until they take a gun out and shoot somebody.
Alan Clarke was an early adopter of the Steadicam for television work which means we follow the various people out and about as the camera operator is alongside them.
This was one of Clarke's last works. He died a year later. Seeing Elephant again when the film is almost 25 years old, I was struck that this is now a period piece.
Northern Ireland has moved on since the peace process of the 1990s.