Water the Elephant

Water the Elephants

Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Written by; Richard LaGravanese

Jacob Jankowski is minutes away from writing his final exam in Veterinary school  when he gets called out of class with news of a fatal car accident killing his only family, his parents. Without any money left to keep his house or pay for the rest of Veterinary School Jacob is on his own, jobless and homeless left to figure out what to do with what's left of his life.

Not knowing where it would of taken him, Jacob jumps onto a moving train in the night to find out in the morning he had joined a travelling circus and soon finds himself accepting a job as their vet. With little knowledge on the circus life Jacob is happy he has found a job in doing what he loves most but soon discovers it's not all it's cracked up to be. The man in charge, August, cares about no one and nothing except for the success of his circus, meaning he will kill any circus person or animal that gets in his way. While staying under the radar of August throughout Jacobs circus experience he soon discovers the most beautiful and sincere woman of the circus is August's wife. Making sure to stay clear of August Jacob begins to get to know Marlena and soon discovers she was a young misfit herself. Overtime Jacob teaches Marlena of the beautiful life a beautiful women such as herself could and should be living outside her star act and abusive husband.

Water for elephants is a beautifully written love story of Jacob and Marlena, as she teaches Jacob to takes chances and Jacob saves her from the life she always felt she was destined to.

In the last scene of the movie when Marlena finally stands up for herself to August, he attempts to kill her, when Jacob steps in and saves her with the help from Rosy the circus elephant.


The Main Characters experiences many different journeys as the circumstances in his life drastically change.

At first as Jacob is walking along the rail road tracks on night just days after the news of his parents death Jacob has begun the quest for identity; he is trying to figure himself out, and what to do with the rest of his life now that this circumstance of loss has overcome him. This journey is soon taken care of FOR him when he jumps onto the train that night and is offered a new life; in the circus, in which he is so desperate he willingly accepts.

Jacob then begins a second journey when he discovers the life circus people, and it is of great trials and incredible abuse from August the leader of the circus. His new focus is now to save his people. After becoming closely acquainted with many people on the circus it kills him to see them in suffering throught the barbaric actions of August. Jacob devises a plan to jump the train with Marlena and many other circus friends before August has another break down and threatens the life of another person.

Jacob also experiences a death and rebirth;  through his parent's death, his life in some ways opened up many new opportunities for him. One of these lead him to his soon to be wife, Marlena

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Hero can easily be found in Jacob, who saves the circus people and the animals from August

Evil Figure - August - a man with an uncontrollable temper

The Temptress - Beautiful Marlena Jacob falls in love with and saves from August


The Mentor - Jacobs roommate on the train that gives him the low down on how the circus works when he first arrives there.

There wasn't a lot of symbolism I could find in this film that could be related to Greek Mythology  except for the color scheme displayed.

August is always found in a red suit symbolizing his anger and rage

Marlena's costume in the circus was always white symbolizing her innocence and purity.

Jacob was also dressed in white which i think symbolizes the similar backgrounds of where they came from. Although Jacob is always covered in dirt and not spotless like Marlena. I believe this reflects the tragedy Jacob overgone prior to joining the circus and the weight it still had on him, as the story wears on you see Jacob begins to be treated better and better, and it reflects through his appearance - it symbolizes his transformation after the tragedy in his life.

2 thumbs up for the movie Water the Elephant