Movie, 2016

The story of the struggle and contribution of black women to the NASA space programme, concentrating on the early 1960s, when Soviet supremacy was putting pressure on the Americans. A well-paced story, which blends its three strands in well and plays elements and nods to the civil rights and segregation issues prevalent at the time. The period detail and space centre shots feel convincing and the story of the acceleration and escalation of the space race are compelling, and while the domestic scenes seem a little idealised and ‘Hollywood,’ they don’t derail the other aspects of the film. A story of hard battles and adversity, and the resultant highs, lows and triumphs.