‘An Elephant Sitting Still’ Trailer: Hu Bo’s First (And Final) Film Is A Beautiful Retelling Of A Classic Greek Myth

It’s almost impossible to watch the new trailer for “An Elephant Sitting Still” and not think about the tragic circumstances surrounding the film. However, even with the real-life events that will follow the film forever floating in your thoughts, there’s so much beauty in the trailer that you’re okay with a little sadness.

For those unaware, “An Elephant Sitting Still” is a film from the Chinese author-turned-filmmaker Hu Bo. The film debuted in February 2018 at the 68th Berlin Film Festival and went on to be honored with the FIPRESCI prize, as well as the award for the Best First Feature Film. However, the filmmaker behind the incredible movie was not in attendance, as Hu Bo tragically committed suicide in October 2017, after the completion of the film, at the age of 29. It’s still unclear exactly what happened that led to the tragedy behind the scenes, but nevertheless, “An Elephant Sitting Still” is one of the best films to hit the film festival circuit in 2018 and is soon going to make its debut in the US.

READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2018

“An Elephant Sitting Still” is described as a modern take on the classic Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts. But if you’re just looking for the actual premise, ‘Elephant’ follows Wei Bu, a young Chinese man who injures a school bully and subsequently is drawn to the city of Manzhouli, where an elephant is said to sit still all day. Along the way, on his journey, the young man meets another classmate, an older neighbor, and the bully’s older brother.

As mentioned, the film is written and directed by Hu Bo, which marks his first and last feature film work. Previous to ‘Elephant,’ the young filmmaker was a famous author, having written two novels “Huge Crack” (which partially served as the film’s inspiration) and “Bullfrog,” which were both published in 2017 to great acclaim.

“An Elephant Sitting Still” debuts at the Film Society of Lincoln Center on March 8.

Here’s the synopsis for the film:

The protagonist of this modern reworking of the tale of Jason and the Argonauts is teenage Wei Bu, who critically injures a school bully by accident. Over a single, eventful day, he crosses paths with a classmate, an elderly neighbor, and the bully’s older brother, all of them bearing their own individual burdens, and all drawn as if by gravity to the city of Manzhouli, where a mythical elephant is said to sit, indifferent to a cruel world.