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An Elephant Sitting Still 大象席地而坐? Tuesday, February 3 | ⏰ Doors: 6PM | ? Film: 6:30PM | ? TicTic, Phnom Penh
⏱ Runtime: 3h 51m
Directed by Hu Bo, An Elephant Sitting Still is a monumental work
of contemporary Chinese cinema - bleak, hypnotic, and devastatingly human. Set over the course of a single winter day, the film follows several characters drifting through despair, violence, and emotional paralysis, all drawn by the rumour of an elephant in Manzhouli that simply sits, unmoved by the world around it.
Shot in long, suffocating takes and drained colour, the film captures a generation crushed by economic pressure, moral exhaustion, and the erosion of hope. Its slow, immersive rhythm refuses release, instead forcing the viewer to remain inside its emotional weight - a defining gesture of Hu Bo’s uncompromising vision.
This is a film we have wanted to screen for a long time, but one we’ve hesitated over due to its length and emotional intensity. Yet some films demand patience - and ultimately insist on being seen. An Elephant Sitting Still is simply too important, too singular, and too profound to leave on the shelf. It stands as one of the most vital works of modern Chinese cinema, and one of the most powerful debuts of the past two decades.
Tragically, An Elephant Sitting Still was Hu Bo’s only completed feature. Shortly after finishing the film, he died by suicide at the age of 29, leaving behind a work that now reads as both a ferocious debut and a final statement. Since its release, the film has been recognised internationally as a landmark - a rare, uncompromising vision that continues to resonate deeply with audiences around the world.
“A work of overwhelming emotional force.” – The New York Times
“One of the most powerful debuts in the history of cinema.” – Film Comment
? Free Entry & Popcorn – Arrive early for sofa, bed, or beanbag seating.
? IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8020896/
? Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/film/an-elephant-sitting-still/
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Event Venue
TicTic តិចៗ, Langka Lane (Lane behind Patio Hotel), Boeng Keng Kang Ti Muoy, Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 120102, Cambodia
Tickets
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