ELEMENTAL

US, 2023, 109 minutes, Colour.

Voices of: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Catherine O'Hara.

Directed by Peter Sohn.

Much nicer than anticipated!

Actually, the trailer didn’t seem all that attractive. The city settings seemed to be excessively gaudy, over colourful. And what about those creatures we are introduced to, sharp fiery characters, seemingly flabby water creatures? What kind of story could Pixar, with its very strong animated film traditions, be introducing us to (although, we should have been ready, because we had that psychological fable, Inside Out, and the teenage story of ambitions, Turning Red?

This reviewer had the great advantage of watching the film with a group of families. And was surprised sometimes at the delightful laughter from some of the younger audience, appreciative chuckles for what seemed to be the most obvious puns (the damp artist who painted in Water Colours!), giggles at some of the sound effects like the mother with her sharp stiletto heels crunching on the steps… Sometimes we adults do underestimate the power of delight in simple things. And, in many ways, this is quite a plain and simple story, easily appreciated by the younger audiences (and parents and grandparents could happily enjoy it as well).

The adults may be thinking about this unlikely romance in terms of the Capulet’s and the Montague’s, very different and hostile families, and this reviewer actually was! So, Romeo and Juliet – Ember is the Juliet character and she is fire. Wade is the Romeo character, a gently malleable water creature. So, a scientific, metaphysical, romantic question: can fire and water be compatible?

Ember is quite feisty, her family coming to live in the city in the special quarter, Firetown, setting up a store, managed by Ember’s father, who wants to bequeath it to her. She is very self-conscious in wanting to be a dutiful daughter. But, a representative of the city council, comes to examine the store especially problems with broken pipes and water sometimes gushing into the store, and danger for the fire family. Wade is exceedingly conscientious, wants to report to the authorities, Ember hurrying after him but failing to stop him.

But, with Wade, there was an immediate attraction and we know that he is soon going to fall in love. We enjoy watching the various encounters between the two, Wade being taunted to eat hot food but then literally letting off steam as he enjoys it. And Wade has the wonderful ability to shape-change, even seeping through stone crevices! The couple do see a lot of each other, Ember going to Wade’s family and experiencing waterworks of gushing tears and how water works. And Wade fills a giant bubble with care so that Embeer can travel through the underwater. And, when they inspect water seeping through a rock wall, Ember discovers that fire meeting water can produce glass.

Actually, it is rather enjoyable writing this review and bringing to mind some of the engaging sequences, surprised at how entertaining they were.

But, a crisis is needed. Ember is to take over the management of the store when her father retires. He is counting on it. But, Wade and the supervising authority, amazed at Ember’s ability to make glass works of beauty, urges her to be herself and follow her dreams. We know that is going to happen – but there are some fiery encounters which would indicate that fire destroys water.

No, that’s not the case. The film finishes happily on all counts – though, as we sit there, wondering whether there could be a sequel, and what would fire-water children be like (or actually be produced!)

1. The tradition of Pixar films? Imagination, characters, worlds? Cultures? Dialogue and songs?
2. The title, the focus on fire and water, the background of earth, and the atmosphere of air? Interactions between fire and water?
3. The colour design of the film, bright, the red of fire, the blue fluidity of water? The background of the city, the buildings, the transport? The characters in the colour scheme? The voice talent?
4. The opening, the focus on fire, the family, the move, the father and his bowing, the authority refusing to bow? The arrival of the family in the city? Going to Firetown, setting up the business? The father running it, the support of his wife? Ember and her management, the intention that she succeed her father?
5. Ember, her personality, fiery and feisty, build, dress, words, easily upset, the impact of her father, the insistence of her mother? Her work in the store, her reaction to the customers, often negative?
6. The arrival of Wade, inspector, his look, fluid, able to seep through cracks…? The impact of Ember, his being smitten? Yet his sense of duty, reporting, Ember pursuing him, his being elusive, reporting to Gale?
7. The issues of the shop, the seepage, the pipes breaking, Ember fixing them, the ship going past, the overflow, the walls? The danger to the shop? To the fiery characters?
8. The romantic aspect of the story, the Romeo and Juliet story, the family backgrounds, the mother and her sensing love, pursuing and spying on the couple? The situation at the shop, the waiting for the authority’s decision, the wall and the stones, Ember and the fire on the water, creating glass, creating beauty?
9. Wade and his personality, prone to gushing weeping, the visit to his family, the painter and the watercolours, his mother and her devotion, the other relatives, the absent father?
10. The meals, for the different elements, Ember and her taunting Wade with the hot food, his digestive and it, the reaction, steam, appreciation?
11. The outings, the bond between the two, Ember demanding, Wade congenial? The bubble, the air, Ember and her tour through the water, seeing the flowers? The danger, Wade rescuing her?
12. Gale, the fluffy cloud characters, encouragement?
13. The expectations for Ember, her father, the decision to retire, the talks with his daughter, the effect on her, Wade urging her to be herself, to get the internship for the glass manufacture?
14. Ember, severe with Wade, the taking over of the business, the celebration, her father’s speech? The hoarding and the lights? The water seeping?
15. The possibility of disaster, the ship, the overflow, the pipes breaking? The buildup to the confrontation, Ember sending Wade away?
16. Fire, water, the explosion, Wade and his disappearance? Ember’s sadness, the response of her father? And Wade seeping back?
17. Happy reunion, Ember being herself, travelling with Wade, going to the internship?
18. The film as an allegory, the history of the director himself, migrant, language, isolated communities, rivalries, comparisons?