"Elio": 5 Reasons Disney-Pixar's Film Acts as a Cryptic Portrayal of Trump's America
In the realm of animated cinema, the recently released film Elio has made waves as a small masterpiece of political cinema. Set against the backdrop of the United States, this film can be seen as a magnificent tale of Trump's America and this confused contemporaneity.
Directed by Adrian Molina, Domee Shi, and Madeline Sharafian, Elio marks a significant, though contentious, collaboration between Disney-Pixar and the U.S. Space Force, a military branch established during Donald Trump's presidency. The Space Force's involvement is part of a PR effort to normalize and promote an agency that was widely mocked and viewed as a symbol of political confusion and spectacle in contemporary America. This embeds the film within the real-world debates and cultural contradictions of Trump's America.
The story of Elio revolves around an 11-year-old boy named Elio Solís, who is grappling with grief and trying to find his place in the world. This personal struggle acts as a metaphor for broader societal uncertainty and the search for identity in a confused, rapidly changing America. The film's genre is not explicitly stated, but it is associated with political cinema and science fiction.
The science fiction elements of Elio serve as an allegory for national and global ambiguity. Elio, in an unexpected turn of events, becomes an accidental ambassador to alien lifeforms, reflecting how Trump's America often seemed reactive and improvisational on the world stage. This sci-fi adventurous framing offers a lens on political and cultural ambivalence.
Despite its political undertones, Elio also focuses on heartfelt themes, including grief and understanding one's place in the universe. It captures the complicated emotional texture of Americans living in a politically and socially turbulent era. The film emphasizes universal values like brotherhood among peoples and family as a place of affections.
In its opening week, Elio earned 72 million dollars globally, with 21 million dollars coming from the United States. However, it is worth noting that Elio is the worst-performing Disney-Pixar title to date.
The film's soundtrack harks back to the iconic scores of great American science fiction films such as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "E.T.", and "Star Wars". The quarantine in Elio echoes that of "E.T.", adding another layer of homage to the classic films that inspired it.
During the Cold War, science fiction films were a formidable tool of soft power to represent the risks and opportunities of humanity teetering on the brink of nuclear catastrophe. In a similar vein, Elio operates both as a product of and commentary on the confusion, contradictions, and hopes of Trump-era America and contemporary society more broadly, using science fiction and emotional storytelling to explore these themes.
Elio also includes diverse characters and explores complex emotions through them, reflecting a conflicting but evolving American identity seeking coherence amid political polarization and cultural debates. The film's multilayered characters embody contemporary diversity and complexity, making it a reflection of the America we live in today.
- As the film's earnings demonstrate, Elio, with its blend of political commentary and heartfelt themes, has resonated with audiences, mirroring the complexities of work in today's entertainment industry, where films can explore multiple dimensions of society.
- In anticipation of their next venture, movie and TV enthusiasts should look forward to future productions that continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, addressing controversial topics like politics, while underscoring universal themes such as identity, humanity, and unity.
