The Elephant King

Directed by Seth Grossman

Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Jonno Roberts, Tate Ellingham, Florence Vanida Faivre

Filmed on location in New York and Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Showing at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival

April 25 - May 7, 2006

Reviewed by Frank J. Avella

Jake is a detached alcoholic whoremonger living in Thailand (so as not to face a jail sentence in the U.S.). Oliver is his introverted, possibly-suicidal younger brother. Jake coaxes Oliver to visit him in the land of the paradox. Glitzy American-influenced sleaze exists amidst stunning ancient temples. And before you can say: “I love you long time,” Oliver has fallen for sexy Thai-gal Lek. Back at home, the boy’s overly concerned mom is not very happy.

The Elephant King is an unusual and emotionally enveloping film that features a fascinating fraternal relationship at it’s core (although the brothers’ history could have been explored more).

Shot in a contemplative style reminiscent of Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, Elephant has quite a few inspired scenes--most of which involve an actual elephant. As a matter of fact the manner in which the elephant is treated reflects greatly on the characters and can be seen as a metaphor for the way the United States treats the rest of the world--never really bothering to learn about a culture and, instead, forcing ours on the respective country.

The film features a fierce performance by Jonno Roberts as the self-destructive Jake. Tate Ellington impresses as the quiet Oliver. And Ellen Burstyn delivers a thoughtful performance as their perpetually worried mother.

Rarely does a Western film address Buddhist notions of life’s impermanence and death as rebirth. And while The Elephant King could have explored these themes a bit further, it stands as a captivating curio.

source: New York Cool

The Elephant King

A Unison Films presentation, in association with De Warrenne Pictures. Produced by Tamar Sela, Tom Waller, Emanuel Michael. Executive producers, Michael, Alex Morcos, Thomas Werner. Co-producer, Cassandra Kulukundis. Directed, written by Seth Grossman.

Oliver Hunt - Tate Ellington

Jake Hunt - Jonno Robert

Lek - Florence Faivre

Diana Hunt - Ellen Burstyn

Bill Hunt - Josef Sommer

By JOHN ANDERSON

A tale of opposites, "The Elephant King" takes advantage of seedy Thai locales and the always exotic allure of Americans debauching abroad to tell the story of brothers on two different but ultimately destructive tracks. Festival play is likely, but the film may be too mainstream for arthouses, and too arty for the mall.

Oliver (Tate Ellington) is a damaged writer with a suicidal bent who lives with his protective mother (Ellen Burstyn) and somewhat emasculated father (Josef Sommer). All three, for different reasons, are preoccupied with Oliver's brother, Jake (Jonno Robert), a dissipated rake who has fled debt and the law to take up residence among the bars, brothels and kick-boxing rings of Thailand. When he sends for his brother, Mom decides Oliver should bring Jake home to face the music.

The bar culture of Southeast Asia is fertile territory for drama, but "The Elephant King" is more reliant on the decadent atmosphere and sexuality of Thai nightlife than it is on narrative. The course each brother follows is fairly predictable; Oliver's sexual initiation with Jake's sometime girlfriend Lek (Florence Faivre) puts him through changes, but director-writer Seth Grossman is willing to take Oliver anywhere that's novel.

Faivre should have a promising career, not just for her statuesque beauty but for her ability to navigate a role and character fraught with contradictions and moral shoals. She handles Lek's seemingly split allegiances -- between Oliver, Jake and her own culture and countrymen --delicately and with convincing care. Typically, Burstyn, too, is exceptional.

The film has a stylish look, expert editing by Saar Klein, Inbal B. Lessner and Lee Chatametikool, and deserves to find an audience, however niche.

Camera (Technicolor, Panavision widescreen), Diego Quemada Diez; editors, Saar Klein, Inbal B. Lessner, Lee Chatametikool; music, Adam Balazs; production designer, Lee Yaniv; costume designer, Karen Yan; sound (Dolby Digital), Akrit Chaya-ngam; special effects supervisor, Kevin Chisnall; casting, Cassandra Kulukundis. Reviewed on DVD, Los Angeles, May 10, 2006. (In Tribeca Film Festival -- Discovery.) Running time: 92 MIN.

source: Variety