French Title: La chanson de l’éléphant
Director: Charles Binamé
Actors: Bruce Greenwood, Colm Feore, Xavier Dolan, Catherine Keener, Guy Nadon
Writer: Nicolas Billon
Country: Canada
Runtime: 110 min
Rating: 14A
Films based on plays often rely heavily on their actors to carry them, as they are reflective of works that cannot make use of cinematography or setting to the same extent. These films are often dialogue-heavy pieces, requiring a sharp script and confident delivery. Canadian/Belgian director Charles Binamé presents an absolutely fascinating mystery in his new film Elephant Song (2014), based on the play of the same name by playwright and screenwriter Nicolas Billon. This psychological thriller boasts a simple concept, but is so full of twists and turns that an audience may be left trying to puzzle it out long after the final credits have rolled.
When psychiatrist Dr. Lawrence (Colm Feore) disappears without a trace from the mental hospital where he works, Dr. Green (Bruce Greenwood) is called in to discover his whereabouts. Green’s best chance of solving this mystery appears to be through an interview with Lawrence’s patient Michael (Xavier Dolan), an individual who claims to have information in its regard. Green is unprepared for the complex and manipulative mind games that Michael is ready to play, however, ignoring prudent advice from Nurse Susan Peterson (Catherine Keener), who works closely with Michael. As their exchange goes on, Michael reveals his incredible intelligence and increases his control of the situation, leaving Green – and the audience – struggling to keep up.
Elephant Song is a film that is fortunate enough to boast two captivating actors in its lead roles. Xavier Dolan portrays Michael as mentally disturbed yet truly brilliant, and there is an undeniably seductive quality to his performance. Bruce Greenwood’s Dr. Green matches his antagonist’s intensity, but in a completely different manner. The plot of the film becomes even more complicated once one realizes the former nature of the relationship between Dr. Green and Nurse Peterson, and Catherine Keener also presents a strong performance, as has come to be expected from this prolific actress.
This work features many different layers of mystery and complication, as every fact is revealed slowly and every character appears to have something to hide. Intermittent scenes showing an interview between Dr. Green and a higher-up after his meeting with Michael ominously foreshadow coming events, and Greenwood is able to draw an audience in as he tells us cryptically and regrettably that “I should have known what he was doing.” The cinematography is simple, allowing the focus of the film to remain always on the actors, while an intense score guides and heightens emotional responses.
Although Elephant Song is an adaptation of a play, I feel as though it worked just as well on the screen as it would have on the stage. Featuring an intriguing mystery presented by a host of truly talented actors, this film is one of those rare gems that keeps one glued to the screen and unwilling to miss a single moment with its psychological twists and turns. Although audience members may still be attempting to catch up after the final scene has ended, forcing one to continue to think after the credits have rolled can hardly be considered a cinematic flaw. This film will undoubtedly receive much attention on the Canadian cinema scene, and is a work that this country can offer to the world with pride.
