Description
Title: The Green Elephant (1999)
Alternate Title: Зелёный слоник
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller, Comedy
Plot Synopsis: Set in 1986, “The Green Elephant” follows two unnamed junior officers in the Soviet Army who are confined in a penal military prison. Sharing a dimly lit, squalid cell with leaking pipes, the two men endure mental and physical abuse. As isolation takes its toll, one officer becomes increasingly talkative and erratic, while the other grows agitated and violent. Their deteriorating mental states lead to extreme and disturbing behaviors, culminating in acts of graphic violence and depravity. The film explores themes of confinement, madness, and the breakdown of human relationships under duress.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Svetlana Baskova
- Writer: Svetlana Baskova
- Producers: Svetlana Baskova, Oleg Mavromatti
- Cast:
- Vladimir Epifantsev as the Second Officer
- Sergey Pakhomov as the First Officer
- Aleksandr Maslaev as the Guard
- Anatoly Osmolovsky as the Captain
- Oleg Mavromatti as the Captain’s Voice (uncredited)
IMDb Link: The Green Elephant (1999)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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ｒｙａｎ :] – ★☆☆☆☆ “Salò but awesome”
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June – ★★★½ “this happened to me and my buddy john”
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Graham – ★★½ “Locked in a cell, two inmates struggle with solitude and mental decline to the point that anything goes, including many of the most unacceptable behaviours in a modern society. The whole scat thing does nothing for me, so that inclusion hurt what was otherwise a stressful slow build to a violently believable ending full of blood n guts (literally).”
Meta Description: “The Green Elephant” (1999), directed by Svetlana Baskova, is a Russian drama-horror film that delves into the psychological and physical deterioration of two Soviet officers confined in a military prison, exploring themes of madness and human degradation.
Title: Mare’s Tail (1969)
Genre: Experimental, Avant-Garde
Plot Synopsis: “Mare’s Tail” is an epic 2.5-hour experimental film by David Larcher that embarks on a journey into inner space. The film begins with a meditative, vibrating drone in a dark auditorium and concludes with the word “REFLECT” scratched onto the film strip, inviting viewers to contemplate their experience. Utilizing techniques such as negative footage, re-filming, stop-motion projection, and optical printing, Larcher deconstructs traditional cinematic perception. The film explores themes of consciousness expansion, memory, and the complex relationship between experience and recollection. “Mare’s tail” refers to elongated, fraying clouds resembling a horse’s tail that signal impending rain, symbolizing the film’s exploration of perception and interpretation.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: David Larcher
- Producer: Alan Power
- Composer: Anthony Moore
IMDb Link: Mare’s Tail (1969)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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hawksquill – ★★★★★ “Massive, world-gobbling cinema. A true marvel of extended technique filmmaking.”
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ZephSilver – ★★★★½ “A galaxy pouring out from half-forgotten memories, the subconscious, and dreams of an individual’s life. It’s big, messy, human cinema.”
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Andrew – ★★★★★ “So much of this is just incredible—a marvel of juggling every possible avant-garde technique.”
Meta Description: “Mare’s Tail” (1969) is an experimental film by David Larcher that delves into inner consciousness through a 2.5-hour visual odyssey. Employing avant-garde techniques, the film challenges traditional cinematic perceptions and explores themes of memory and experience.
