Los Angeles is currently the epicenter of national unrest, but a story of hope is quietly making its debut, not on the streets, but on the silver screen. As protests and political fury grip the city, Pixar’s latest animated feature, Elio, is about to release, giving us a sense of uncanny timing.
The juxtaposition of the real and reel life events is hard to ignore, and that’s why Elio matters more now than ever. Jameela Jamil, who is the voice behind one of the movie’s characters, doesn’t think that this is a coincidence. So, is this animated adventure what we need at this time of division and exhaustion?
LA riots: Donald Trump orders ICE raids and military presence
Over the past few days, Los Angeles has been consumed by protests after the mass immigration raid led by the U.S immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). President Donald Trump reportedly ordered this intervention, and it has led to curfews, frustration, and resistance (via BBC).
The protests started after ICE began its coordinated operations in neighborhoods that had predominantly Latino populations. While some areas led a peaceful protest, other parts of downtown LA turned chaotic. The police declared it to be an “unlawful assembly,” and responded with riot gear, flash-bang grenades, and rubber bullets.
Later, a full deployment was announced with 4000 National Guard troops and 700 U.S Marines, and these troops were deployed without the request of the California governor. Moreover, ICE has ramped up its daily arrest goals to 3000 people, which has prompted fear among immigrant communities across the country.
Elio: A tale that has landed when we need it most
Elio is directed by Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian. It’s a beautiful Pixar sci-fi adventure about an 11-year-old named Elio Solis. Aliens mistake him for Earth’s ambassador and beam him into outer space, which sounds like a cool concept, but there are also layers of cultural resonance to this story.
Why? It’s because Elio is Pixar’s first Mexican-Dominican lead character, which alone makes the timing significant. At the movie’s premiere in Los Angeles, Jameela Jamil spoke about the power of this moment and how the animated feature might be something that we need during this political unrest (via The Hollywood Reporter).
We need hope, because the world is a dumpster fire right now and we need young people to remember that they are capable of great things. We have politicians and media and social media that make people feel deliberately powerless, and actually the power is with the people and we are seeing just that all over the news right now.
She also reflected on how most people would be able to relate to the protagonist’s pessimistic view of the world. But the movie could help empower children, especially children of color, to feel seen and capable. So Elio is not just a distraction but a defiant act of optimism.
Elio will release in theaters on June 20, 2025 (USA).
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