E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Aliens land on Earth as part of a peaceful mission to explore the planet. While taking plant probes from a forest near Los Angeles, they are surprised by FBI and NASA agents. As they leave in a hurry, one of the extraterrestrial beings is left behind and looks for shelter in the close-by suburban estate, where it is discovered by the 10-year-old Elliot. A telepathic bond soon develops between them. “E.T. phone home” and the BMX bike on which E.T. and Elliot escape their pursuers by riding into the sky (inspired by the broomstick ride in Vittorio De Sica’s Miracolo a Milano) made film history. In his first family film, Steven Spielberg explored his own childhood memories with this tale of a lonely young boy from the suburbs looking for someone to play with. E.T. (USA 1982) is a humanistic appeal for the unprejudiced treatment of difference and understanding of the other and become one of the most successful films of its time. (Hans-Joachim Fetzer)