Sunday, January 15, 2017
Hidden Figures
“Hidden Figures” stars Taraji
P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle
Monde portraying three African American ladies
of unusual skills and talent who became indispensable computer-members of the team
that helped bring our country into the space age and, in particular, the safe
orbit and return of Astronaut John Glenn. Also starring Kevin Costner, the film
is based on the book by Margo Lee Shetterly with a noteworthy screenplay
co-written by director Theodore Melfi and Allison Schroeder. This movie describes
the abuses and mental hardships that these ladies had to undergo, endure and
ultimately overcome while tending to the task of aiding their country in its
time of need. Set in the early 1960’s against the background of Reverend King
and the others who were fighting for civil rights, the film brings home the
plight of this victimized minority when even using a coffeemaker or restroom in the NASA
compound became an issue. Yet, throughout all of these indignities and
humiliations, these women persevered and performed above and beyond all expectations even
surpassing at times the supposedly talented white engineers and the newly
introduced IBM computer that NASA was so heavily relying upon. Perhaps the view of two elderly
African American ladies with their young granddaughters sitting in the row in
front of me in the theater made me realize how significant and important this
film is because it showed us all, including those little girls seated in front of me, how tenacity, talent and dignity can conquer
adversity and help those with such qualities achieve the accolades and acknowledgments properly due them. When one sees a film about the Holocaust, the question often arises as to
how many great minds were lost in this mass horror. This film, in its own way,
likewise poses the question as to how many great minds were lost or forsaken in the name of prejudice and hate. I recommend this
film to persons of every color and gender because it is inspiring and informative
and well deserving of a 3 and 1/2 star rating.
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