This week I had the pleasure of attending Disney and Pixar’s newest original feature, “Elemental” at New York City’s Lincoln Square AMC. Directed by Peter Sohn, the film takes us on a journey into the spectacular world of Element city.
Visually stunning, Element City, is a bright, magical, colorful place, where the four elements of nature, water, air, earth and fire, live and work. The city is a predominately watery place with many ports, canals, and drains. We quickly learned that not all the elements work together and get along. The Water people, Earth people, and Air people live within the main parts of the city think what Manhattan is to New York. Over the bridge, on the outskirts of the city, is where the Fire people live and work segregated from the rest of the elements. Their differences keep them apart and caused them to share bias beliefs and stereotype one another. “The city isn’t made with fire people in mind,” says Ember, the lead female character. She’s a quick-witted young lady with a fiery temper and the daughter of immigrant parents, Bernie and Cinder.
They migrated to Element city to build a new life, a “better life” after a massive storm destroyed their old life in their homeland Fi. Bernie is proud to be fire and wants nothing to do with the other elements, especially water. “Water is always trying to water down fire” is the message Bernie indoctrinated Ember to believe and live by which she did unwarily until an unexpected accident brought her to meet Wade, the watery male lead. With a series of unfortunate events that follow Ember and Wade are forced to step outside of their comfort zones and explore the world beyond their doorsteps, while battling which beliefs to hold on to.
The question then becomes will they continue to allow the fears they were taught to have stifle them or will they rise to the occasion and do away with the ideologies they were given by family and society and go, after what’s truly in their hearts?
Element city is inspired by major cities all around the world. It’s big, bold, beautiful, and all so familiar, the “melting pot” that’s not quite melted. The film highlights many of the racial and prejudice issues experienced in real life. Along with challenges of desires vs obligation and connection vs sacrifice. Elemental may inspire you to reflect on your real life and your place in it all. Are you living courageously every day to blaze your own path and burn bright or are you just merely existing for others?
Elemental hits theaters tomorrow June, 16th. Suitable for children and adults alike. Experience it for yourself and let us know in the comments what you think.
Voice Cast: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie , Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Catherine O’Hara, Mason Wertheimer and Joe Pera
Produced by: Denise Ream
Executive produced by: Pete Docter
Screenplay: John Hoberg, Kat Likkel and Brenda Hsueh