New Showbiz

You are here:
Elián

Elián

2017

TV-PG

Director

Tim Golden, Ross McDonnell

Runtime

108 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The story of Elián Gonzalez, a five-year-old Cuban boy plucked from the Florida Straits, and how the fight for his future changed the course of U.S.-Cuba relations. Featuring personal testimony, interviews, and a news archive, this documentary recounts Elián’s remarkable rescue on Thanksgiving Day in 1999, after his mother and 10 others fleeing Cuba perished at sea, and the custody battle between the boy’s Cuban father and his Miami-based relatives.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.7/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film focuses on a geopolitical and familial custody dispute. There are no visible LGBTQ+ characters or narratives addressing non-heteronormative identities.

Gender Representation

Fair

The narrative centers on a custody battle between a father and maternal relatives. It follows standard historical recounts without subverting traditional gender hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The documentary prioritizes a non-Anglo-Saxon perspective by centering the Cuban diaspora. Personal testimony provides a platform for voices often marginalized in mainstream Western media.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film examines the friction between U.S. legal frameworks and the lived realities of Cuban refugees. It critiques the simplicity of geopolitical binaries through a nuanced lens.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no mention of subjects navigating physical, neurodivergent, or mental health disabilities within the documented narrative.

Strengths

  • Centers the Cuban diaspora and provides a platform for marginalized immigrant voices.
  • Offers a nuanced critique of U.S. legal frameworks versus refugee realities.
  • Prioritizes non-Anglo-Saxon perspectives through personal testimony and archival depth.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative narratives.
  • Does not actively subvert traditional gender hierarchies or explore non-traditional masculinity.
  • Provides no visibility for characters navigating physical or mental disabilities.

AI Analysis

Elián (2017) serves as a journalistic examination of a specific historical crisis, prioritizing the immigrant experience and ethnic identity. By centering the Cuban diaspora, the film offers a necessary departure from purely Western-centric historical narratives. However, the documentary lacks breadth in other identity categories. It does not feature LGBTQ+ narratives or significant subversions of gender roles, remaining focused on the legal and patriarchal structures of the custody battle. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its cultural and ethnic specificity rather than a broad spectrum of social representation.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.