Overview

• Elio is an 11-year-old boy mistaken for Earth’s ambassador after aliens abduct him in Pixar’s new film released June 20.
• Critical opinion is divided, with some applauding its emotional exploration of loneliness, grief and identity.
• Other reviewers fault the story’s reliance on familiar sci-fi references and occasional narrative clutter.
• The film’s bold, kaleidoscopic depiction of the Communiverse has been hailed as among Pixar’s most visually stunning work.
• Composer Rob Simonsen’s emotive score complements a narrative rooted in co-director Adrian Molina’s experiences of childhood solitude.