the film, his chest lights up.
You can look at E.T. as the “Other”. He has a strange appearance and healing powers. Even though he looks so different than humans, Elliot befriends him. Their bond challenges the idea that differences should divide us. While the government in the film sees E.T. as a threat, Elliot recognises his human features beyond his physical ones. The story of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial can be looked at as an example of sophisticated othering (Brons, 2015). The film invites us to reflect on how we treat those who are different. E.T. is, therefore, not just an alien but a mirror that forces us to ask ourselves: Who do we see as “Other” in our own world and why?