Film Review : Hidden Figures (PG)
Based on true events, Hidden Figures tells the story of a group of female African-American mathematics hired by NASA as part of America’s space programme in the 1960s.
Released : Friday 17th February 2017
Rated : PG
Running Time : 127 minutes
BBFCinsight : Discrimination theme, mild bad language
Director : Theodore Melfi
Cast Includes : Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons
It’s 1962 and NASA is falling behind the Russians in the space race. Determined to catch up NASA is trying to put a man in space however calculating the trajectories for the rockets is done by ‘human computers’ rather than the electronic computers that we know today.
With the launch of John Glenn in the Friendship 7 space craft imminent the ‘human computers’ have to work faster than ever while battling against deeply engrained racism and sexism to secure their place in history.
The film is based on true life events and features the story of the mathematician Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), team supervisor Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and budding engineer Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae).
Review
The film is excellent, it’s educational, inspirational and shows what can be achieved is someone is determined to overcome the obstacles placed in their way.
There’s also some lots of footage from the 1960’s space programme and some great fashions and cars to be seen.