Hidden Figures
2016 · Directed by Theodore Melfi
Original language: English
- drama
- history
The story
The untold story of Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson – brilliant African-American women working at NASA and serving as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.
What it’s like
Warm, bright 1960s Virginia in Hidden Figures: sun-washed Southern exteriors, pastel dresses and crisp white shirts, and the cool gleam of NASA's glass-walled offices and chalkboards covered in equations. The camera is mostly steady and unfussy, with plenty of medium shots that let characters talk across desks and corridors, and the period detail (cat-eye glasses, green Chevrolets, IBM machines humming in a room) gives it a polished, classic-Hollywood finish. The score by Pharrell Williams is buoyant and jazzy, lifting the mood without overwhelming the scenes. The tone is hopeful and brisk, with humour and camaraderie threaded through the workplace and home scenes, and the arcs follow three women gradually claiming the recognition and room their talents deserve. Intensity is low to moderate: there is no gore or graphic violence, but segregation, workplace humiliation and everyday racism are shown plainly and sometimes sharply. It suits a Sunday afternoon or an uplifting weeknight, and it is for viewers who want an inspiring, feel-good true story about perseverance, friendship and getting the job done against the odds.
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