Great Story - Unfortunate Bias

Rating: 6/10 (13 November 2018)

This movie was a joy to watch, and I was delighted to realize that details such as the last-minute call prior to launch really happened. As usual with movies "based on a true story," however, I researched the validity of the facts and was disappointed to learn that the movie had severely exaggerated the racism at NASA. In a post-movie interview, the key star of the film explained that she did not feel much racism while working at NASA. Specifically, she shared the white ladies restroom next to her office and the same coffee pot as everybody else in her group. Further, the nasty fellow who constantly attacked her never really existed. Although I laud the bringing to the public awareness these important black women and their roles in the Space Program, I am sadened to see it done in a manner which exaggerates the racism for modern audiences who will not likely verify the historical accuracy on their own.