OK, I'll admit I read the newspaper articles and watched all the live coverage of the events which formed the basis for this movie. I made and changed my opinion of the events several times over the earlier part of the year 2000 almost weekly as new information became available. And I'll admit I scoffed when I learned how quickly the tragedy would be dramatized for television. But the movie itself actually surprised me by remaining neutral and allowing its audience to form their own opinions. MINOR SPOILERS BELOW...
Furthermore, the movie manages to sentimentalize Elian's situation without lowering itself to melodrama. Besides, the story's events are no surprise, so the focus stays on the miracle of the boy's rescue instead of the political standoff that pitted Cuban-Americans against Castro.
As far as the acting goes, Esai Morales deftly manages to portray Juan Miguel Gonzalez as a loving father, despite the fact that he wants his son to return to communist Cuba, where the boy will (arguably) lead a much more impoverished, oppressed life. The boy who plays Elian also does well by sitting back, saying very little, and just looking overwhelmed, which is basically what I remember happened.
I don't think this TV drama will be long be remembered as a milestone in television history, nevertheless it definitely provides some involving, family-friendly entertainment for a slow weeknight. And, at least, it provides an opportunity for further family discussion in the process.
Furthermore, the movie manages to sentimentalize Elian's situation without lowering itself to melodrama. Besides, the story's events are no surprise, so the focus stays on the miracle of the boy's rescue instead of the political standoff that pitted Cuban-Americans against Castro.
As far as the acting goes, Esai Morales deftly manages to portray Juan Miguel Gonzalez as a loving father, despite the fact that he wants his son to return to communist Cuba, where the boy will (arguably) lead a much more impoverished, oppressed life. The boy who plays Elian also does well by sitting back, saying very little, and just looking overwhelmed, which is basically what I remember happened.
I don't think this TV drama will be long be remembered as a milestone in television history, nevertheless it definitely provides some involving, family-friendly entertainment for a slow weeknight. And, at least, it provides an opportunity for further family discussion in the process.