White Elephant
Two priests and an atheist social worker confront poverty, political obstruction, and cartel violence while trying to build hope in a Buenos Aires shantytown.
Overview
In the heart of Buenos Aires, two priests navigate the complexities of faith and community amidst chaos.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- harrowing
- compassionate
- politically charged
- thoughtful evening
- international cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film’s committed social realism, performances, and depiction of institutional and communal pressure, while finding its drama somewhat conventional.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Julián and Nicolás use religious vocation, political access, and community organizing to serve residents of Villa Virgin.
The Villa Virgin slum is treated as a dense lived environment of unfinished construction, cartel conflict, and precarious housing.
The hospital project is halted by ministerial decree after prolonged political and construction efforts.
Nicolás arrives traumatized by the assassination of community members in the jungle and increasingly doubts his vocation.
Films like White Elephant, and why
The Mission
social realism, religious protagonists, and morally pressured work among marginalized communities
La haine
urban poverty, institutional failure, and compassionate but unsentimental social drama
No
Latin American political tension, spiritual conflict, and grounded humanist filmmaking
City of God
bleak social realism, divided communities, and protagonists confronting systemic violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Pablo Trapero
- Release Date
- 2012-05-16
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (126)
Cast
- Ricardo Darín
- Jérémie Renier
- Martina Gusmán
- Federico Barga
- Walter Jakob
- Mauricio Minetti
- Raul Ramos
- Pablo Gatti
- Tatiana Giménez
- Susana Varela
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is White Elephant about?
- Two priests and an atheist social worker confront poverty, political obstruction, and cartel violence while trying to build hope in a Buenos Aires shantytown.
- What is White Elephant like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of White Elephant as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is White Elephant violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in White Elephant as brutal.
- What did critics think of White Elephant?
- Critics broadly praised the film’s committed social realism, performances, and depiction of institutional and communal pressure, while finding its drama somewhat conventional.
- Which films are like White Elephant?
- Films with a similar feel include The Mission, La haine, No, and City of God.
- How long is White Elephant?
- White Elephant runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch White Elephant?
- In United States, White Elephant is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
