Mixing drama, perseverance, structural racism, sexism, and science, Hidden Figures became one of the most important films in recent years when it comes to female representation and historical recognition.
In addition to being an excellent option for those who enjoy emotional films, the film also sparks interest by presenting real events little known to the general public.
What film will air in the Afternoon Session today?
The film broadcast by Globo on Wednesday (13) will be Hidden Figures, originally known as Hidden Figures.
The film follows the true story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, three brilliant mathematicians who worked at NASA during the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
While American astronauts tried to win the space competition during the Cold War, the three women faced another even crueler challenge: racism and prejudice within their own workplace.
Despite being extremely qualified, they had to fight daily to be respected in a society marked by racial segregation and sexism.
The true story behind Hidden Figures
One of the film's great differentials is precisely the fact that it is inspired by real events.
For many years, the contributions of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson remained practically hidden from NASA's official history. The film's original title, Hidden Figures, makes reference to these "hidden figures" who helped the United States advance in space exploration.
Katherine Johnson
Portrayed by Taraji P. Henson, Katherine Johnson was considered a true mathematics prodigy.
She was responsible for fundamental calculations for historic space missions, including the trajectory of astronaut John Glenn, one of the first Americans to orbit Earth.
Her mathematical precision was so respected that the astronaut himself asked Katherine to manually review the calculations made by computers before the mission.
Dorothy Vaughan
Played by Octavia Spencer, Dorothy Vaughan faced challenges related to technology and NASA's modernization.
With the arrival of IBM computers, she realized that many Black women could lose their jobs. Because of this, she decided to learn programming and teach her colleagues, becoming one of the first computing specialists at the agency.
Mary Jackson
Portrayed by Janelle Monáe, Mary Jackson dreamed of becoming an aerospace engineer.
However, because of racial segregation in the United States, she even had to fight legally for the right to attend classes at a school exclusive to whites.
Her trajectory became a symbol of resistance and breaking barriers.
Hidden Figures moves audiences by addressing racism and sexism
Far beyond the space race, Hidden Figures draws attention by showing how racial prejudice was present in every detail of 1960s American society.
The film portrays humiliating situations experienced by the protagonists, such as separate bathrooms for Black people, difficulties in occupying important positions, and constant attempts at professional devaluation.
At the same time, the film also addresses the professional and personal achievements of these women who refused to be silenced.
