Storylines Pulled from History
The title of the film refers to the beginning of the Civil War, as young soldiers await firefight or, “seeing the elephant.” Throughout the film, soldiers’ dialogue from letters and diaries tell stories of leaving home, enduring training camps, facing battle, and ultimately dealing with the consequences of war—for them and their families. When the “elephant” appears, visitors are thrown into battle and surrounded by gunfire, as they are immersed into the story.