This is a true story…
When I heard about this film, I wondered why I hadn’t heard of these 3 inspirational women before?
Growing up, my Dad had always tried to educate me on our black history, but these 3 ladies had never been mentioned, as far as I remember, so I am grateful for this film for bringing them to my attention.
I was so excited when I was invited to a preview screening last month, I couldn’t wait to get down to the cinema and get myself an education! π
The film is a biopic of Katherine G. Johnson (played by Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (played by Octavia Spencer) Β and Mary Jackson (played by Janelle Monae).
Take a look at the trailer.
This film touches on issues of gender equality as well as racism. Sexism came from their own black men, as well as others, so we watch as they have to battle both barriers to achieve their dreams.
I wish I could say that these issues didn’t exist today, but in 2017, we have to admit that it is nowhere near as bad as what these ladies had to deal with back then.
Anyway, back to the film… After a brief introduction showing Katherine as a little girl, we meet the 3 grown up ladies on the open road with a broken down car and I watched with glee the altercation they had with a passing Police Officer and his reaction when he realised who they worked for.
Katherine, is a widow with daughters & a wonderful Mother who helps her alot, so that she can continue her career and the long hours that her job demands at NASA.
She’s an amazing mathematician, practically a human calculator and quickly makes her presence felt when she is promoted to a new department away from her peers.
Dorothy, has her own children and is the ‘sensible’ one, she is very keen to advance herself and is a great leader and is respected by the women she supervises, although she has not yet been officially made a ‘Supervisor’.
We watch as she pleads for the official Supervisor position and the barriers she faces. Her skills are in Computer Science, she’s one clever and loyal lady! Love her π
Mary is a lady with fantastic engineering skills and knowledge, although she is not able to pursue an career as an Engineer as the only college that offers the course she needs is based at a ‘White Only’ College.
Her line manager encourages her to fight for what she wants, so she does…
All 3 actresses were amazing in their roles, I was totally expecting to watch Taraji acting like her character ‘Cookie’ from Empire or Octavia Spencer to be like her role ‘Minny Jackson’ in The Help, and I only knew Janelle Monae previously as a singer, but her roles in Moonlight and this movie could not be more different – these ladies have my ultimate respect.
Also, a shout out to Kirsten Dunst, Kevin Costner, Jim Parsons and Glenn Powell for great performances too.
Thank you again 20th Century Fox for highlighting this story behind the space race, I am truly grateful.
This is an enjoyable movie that I believe should be compulsory viewing for every little girl of colour.
Go see it!
Chanel π
Review by Chanel Williams