Hidden figures are all around us...

Rating: 8/10 (12 March 2017)

Even after laws change in courts or congress, it takes a while for public habits, social rules and workplace policies to adapt. Hidden Figures chronicles the achievements of three intelligent ladies who were courageous to challenge the social order while also making long lasting contributions to science and technology.
Segregation was deemed unconstitutional as early as 1957, at least in schools, but it is baffling to believe that while United States was trying to put a man on the moon, had separate bathrooms, bus benches and dining areas for colored people well into the 1960s. Hidden Figures wonderfully captures the hardships of three colored women in those days, while proving how a common goal can help people set-aside differences, break down barriers and achieve the impossible – something we all strongly need right now.
It was cheerful to hear punchlines like "At NASA, we all pee the same color" by Kevin Costner or "Every time we have a chance to get ahead, they move the finish line." by Janelle Monae; dialogues certainly being one of the best features of this film. Mahershala Ali beautifully portrays a military colonel who falls in love with a widow. Jim Parsons fits the mold of a math genius but it will take some time for audiences to not expect humor from him, his impeccable gift of timing remains unexploited in the movie. Octavia Spencer, Taraji Henson and Janelle Monae pay a tribute to Dorothy Vaughn, Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson through their authentic and sincere performances.
While the movie provides these ladies their due credit, and the audiences a happy ending, our reality today is far from it. Unfortunately, over forty years after the civil rights movement and numerous laws passed, large parts of our society still openly deny a woman her right to choose, working parents their right to maternity leave, immigrants a wage they deserve, gay couples their right to get married, and a black person his right to a fair trial. We don't want our future generation to say, 'how were they OK with this?' There are hidden figures all around us, let's not wait to appreciate them until the next movie is made. Keep dreaming, try harder, fight for your rights and never give up