Show of the week

Elián

Nearly two decades ago, a 5-year-old from Cuba became one of the most talked-about figures in America. Elián González, discovered floating in an inner tube off Florida, had survived a doomed group attempt to escape Fidel Castro’s Cuba. But because he arrived in a land with 24- hour news channels, and because America was unsure if politics trumps family demands or vice versa, Elián’s future triggered a battle joined by both the White House and Castro himself. This smart documentary revisits the drama, adding fresh insights from key players, including Elián himself. Thursday, Aug. 24, at 9 p.m., CNN ■