When I sat down in the plush seats of my local cinema to watch Hidden Figures, I was fairly certain of what I was in for: an empowering, funny, positive representation of women in the workplace.
But within minutes it became clear; this movie is so much more than that.
The biographical drama, which was released in the US late last year and hits Aussie cinemas on Thursday night, follows the lives of three whip-smart African American women employed by NASA in the 1960s.
Directed by Theodore Melfi, Hidden Figures is 127 minutes of gripping, familiar, tear-jerking truth that drives home how deeply matters of race and gender penetrate society.
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The role of protagonist Katherine Johnson (played by actress Taraji P. Henson) is pivotal.
A widow with three daughters and the first “coloured” woman to assume a position in the company’s Space Task Group, Katherine’s doggedness to pursue a field specifically designed to exclude her is extraordinary. Everyday tasks like pouring a cup of coffee, or going to the bathroom, are made tediously difficult by processes of segregation, as repeatedly presented by the film’s producers.
Katherine’s capability as a mother is seldom discussed – because it needn’t be. Refreshingly, the film is aware enough to depict Katherine as a loving, caring mother not through her presence at home, but through her resolve at work, and her steadfast commitment to providing for her children.
Top Comments
Sounds like more white male bashing to me, so on behalf of my dearest father, my wonderful husband and two fine sons, I'll pass.
Besides if I want to see fantastic feminists at work I need look no further than our own Peta Credlin and Rita Panahi.
actually the movie is about maths, engineering and the amazing feat of putting humans in space. there are multiple story lines to enjoy if politics is not your thing. The film just tells a story, its not soapboxing.
I'm looking forward to this film.
"it has had overwhelming success at the box office so far"
See, Hollywood? If you build it (female-centred films), they will come.
They didn't go to ghostbusters.
Or could it be that this is just a good movie?
(Edited to add the word 'go' to the first sentence, so it actually makes sense now!)