The government holds the power within a society. They are in charge of protecting the citizens, keeping the peace, and enforcing the law. As a result, the government is held accountable for the well-being of its citizens and must respond appropriately to all actions. In the film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the government responds immediately when given word of an alien living among them. This unknown creature is viewed as a threat to society due to its foreign behavior and unknown motives regarding its visit to Earth. The government's responsibility for ensuring the safety of all its citizens results in a mandatory elimination of this possible hazard. The entire neighborhood is roped off and access is controlled due to possible contamination. Elliot and E.T. are immediately hospitalized and subjected to dozens of medical tests and experiments. Although the government is only doing its job by looking out for the well-being of humanity, they are portrayed at the bad guys.
The entire movie is shot from a lower angel in order to better simulate the point of view of Elliot and E.T., through whom the story is told. As a result, the government workers who interfere with the two's friendship and cause harm to their health are automatically deemed the villain.
The majority of society agrees with the government and their fear of aliens due to the biased beliefs government has tried to instill upon its citizens; however, children are innocent at heart. Although the children have already begun to experience an exposure to these biased views, they have not yet accepted them as the truth. Children wish to explore the world and must learn all of life's lessons for themselves. They cannot be told what to think or what to do. In order for children to fully experience their childhood, they must be allowed freedom and independence, to a certain degree. Children hold no responsibilities in society, and, therefore, do not have to consider the safety and well-being of others. They can afford to be careless and make rash decisions due to their dependency on the adults in their life, whom they trust to keep them safe and who are also responsible for them.
In the movie, the audience experiences the curiosity of a child on an adventure and the curiosity of an alien on a foreign planet without having to subject themselves to actual danger. Each member of the audience, whether young or old, is given the opportunity to forget their responsibility to society and experience life as a child either for the first time or the first time in fifty years.
