Hidden Figures is a film that is taken from the true story that happened in the 60's. At that time the Soviet Union and the United States were competing regarding the space expeditions.
The success of the Soviet disarmed artificial satellite followed by the success of Yuri Gagarin became the first person to explore space to make the American Space Agency (NASA) is under pressure.
The film demonstrates America's striving to emulate and even surpass the achievements achieved by the Soviets.
We know in the end NASA succeeded in surpassing the Soviets with their success sending humans to the moon. But the journey is not easy and involves many people.
Includes three smart and brave women whose services are covered for decades who became the main character in this movie Hidden Figures.
Katherine Goble (played by Taraji, P Hanson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Jannele Monae) are three smart women who work as Mathematicians for NASA.
Among the three, Katherine is the most prominent. Since the childhood, her ability in mathematics has been discovered. Little Katherine was able to solve problems that the older children could not solve.
Unfortunately, racism was still a natural thing in America. As a result, the three women who came from the blacks were not getting the right treatment at NASA, where they work.
Black workers were never trusted to fill the important positions. They are only employed to calculate and count as a calculator engine.
With their courage, hard work and intelligence, Katherine, Dorothy and Mary finally proved that they were able to make a great contribution to NASA and deserve equal treatment with other workers.
Unlike the lively La La Land, Arrival, or Moonlight discussed in social media; Hidden Figures is relatively less popular.
Though this movie, in my opinion, is very brilliant. The story is good, the acting of the actors and the actress is convincing, and many moral messages are delivered.
The struggle of the three main characters in this film is very interesting to follow. How they deal with racist treatment in almost everything makes me very empathetic.
Imagine, for the toilet business there is discrimination in it. There are special toilets for white people and non white people.
Not to mention in the field of education. Black people always get different treatment. There are some schools and libraries do not allow them to enter because they are reserved for white people only.
Although there are many moments that describe discrimination against blacks in this film, we can not blame the white people 100% either.
They seemed unaware of discrimination against non-whites and considered the rules to be natural.
The efforts of Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary in their awakening is what makes many scenes make me cringe in this movie.
One of them was the scene when Mary filed a lawsuit in court so she could enroll in a white school.
I plan on being an engineer at NASA, but I can’t do that without taking them classes at that all-white high school, and I can’t change the color of my skin. So I have no choice, but to be the first, which I can’t do without you, sir. Your honor, out of all the cases you gonna hear today, which one is gonna matter hundred years from now? Which one is gonna make you the first?
Mary Jackson, Hidden Figures
Mary said those words very loudly and made the judge unable to do anything but grant her demands.
Janele Monae who plays Mary is my favorite character in this movie, although actually, the cast of Dorothy and Katherine is also no less compelling.
Also, there are two supporting cast members who quite attracted my attention.
The first is Mahersala Alli, Oscar's best-supporting actor in 2017. Although Ali earned an Oscar thanks to his role in the film Moonlight, his role as Colonel Jim Johnson (Katherine's Lover) is pretty good.
The second is Jim Parsons who plays the role of Paul Stafford, Katherine's co-worker. As someone who likes the acting of Sheldon Cooper in the series The Big Bang Theory, I am very enthusiastic with his presence.
Jim was able to bring a unique character in this movie well. Unlike Sheldon Cooper who is fussy, genius, and annoying, Stafford is a serious person and does not say much even as it sucks.
This movie gives at least two important messages
Everyone should get the same treatment regardless of skin color, or their tribe of origin. The slogan "FIGHT AGAINST RACISM" that is often shown in international football matches needs to be done.
Mathematics is a fundamental science. Even though we never know its application in everyday life. After watching this movie, we will realize how important calculation is and even out there are people who entrust their life and death to mathematical calculations.
Hidden Figures is very suitable to be seen by us Indonesian people who live in a country that has a lot of differences.
This movie will give us a new perspective, and it might make us realize that maybe, whether consciously or not, we have been unfair to others around us.
Overall I give this movie 9/10 rating.
