Elián

A tense, emotionally charged documentary that makes a political custody battle feel deeply personal and urgent.

Directed by

Ross McDonnell, Tim Golden

Genres

Documentary

Starring

Elián Gonzalez, Raúl Esparza, Fidel Castro

Tagline

A boy caught between two worlds

Overview

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.

How it feels

Tense, melancholic and warm. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Family, politics, identity, justice

Content

Mild violence and language. No gore or sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)