We’re back with another movie review from Audre Myers, who is tossing in reviews of her favorite flicks whenever the mood strikes (or whenever I e-mail her asking her to contribute something).
She offers up her review of the 2016 film Hidden Figures, about three black women “computers” working for NASA. It was a darling of the critics for its frank depiction of segregation.
Unfortunately, some its iconic scenes—like the lady having to walk half-a-mile to use a segregated bathroom—are Hollywood hogwash. The segregated facilities were abolished in 1958—three years before the films setting—and while there were segregated restrooms in one part of NASA’s facilities prior to that year, they were unlabeled. Katherine Johnson, one of the titular “hidden figures,” unwittingly used the whites only bathroom for years, and ignored the one complaint that was ever issued without any further escalation.
These inaccuracies—perhaps dramatic artistic license?—don’t mean segregation wasn’t real—it certainly was—but it seems that NASA was not exactly the hotbed of segregationist sentiment that the film depicts. That makes sense—an organization reaching for the stars probably isn’t all that concerned about such earthbound issues as skin pigmentation. Besides, there are plenty of alien species we can discriminate against in the distant future.
With that, here is Audre Myers’s review of 2016’s Hidden Figures:
I LOVE this movie. It’s not a ‘feel good’ movie – but it’s the best darned feel good movie you’ll ever watch. It’s general release was January 2017 and is loosely based on the non-fiction book by the same title, written by Margaret Lee Shetterly.
Three black women work for NASA in 1961 America. This is the real racism that America had – segregated everything: toilets, lunchrooms, back of the bus, or walk. Those of us of a certain age don’t need to be reminded; we remember. But I grew up in New York and even though it was racist, it was nothing like rural towns – especially Southern rural towns. We know. We remember. The three women work in the Computer Department. No – not like your desktop. They themselves were considered ‘computers’ because of their math abilities – they ‘computed’ and were, therefore, computers. I know – I like the play on words, too.
Each have their challenges, both at work and at home. But especially at work, as you might imagine. NASA was big time for white men; and women, especially black women, were sort of like the stuff you see growing on food you’ve left too long in the fridge; you can see it but what it is baffles you. The ‘computers’ are given random assignments each day, based on whatever department might need one. Katherine Goble (played by actress Tarajie P. Henson) gets assigned to the launch/land department of the Space Task Group department in preparation for the first manned space flight. Mary Jackson (played by Jonelle Monae) is doing the work of an engineer in the department that is trying to figure out how to make the return capsule safe. Dorothy Vaughn (played by one of my favorite actresses – Octavia Spencer) is doing the work of a supervisor over the ‘Computers’ department.
There are so many scenes in this movie that are my favorite so I can’t tell you about them without spoiling the movie. But I do have a story to tell you. My brother was 10 years my senior and he was, to his end, a racist. He came to the house one day to spend some time and I’d told him about this great movie. He sat there and watched the whole thing. I was waiting … ya know, thinking he’d say something. He just said he enjoyed it. He called me from his home in the early evening to tell me he watched the movie twice more. That should tell you something significant right there.
I’m just going to give you this little trailer to go on. But please! Watch this movie. You’ll be so pleased that you did. And be sure to watch the closing credits – they include pictures of the real hidden figures; Dorothy Vaughn, Katherine Goble Johnson, and Mary Jackson.