In the past ten or so years, one of the more resonant film quotes that I hope rings out to young children across the globe is from Disney’s Zootopia. You have to love that inspiring and simple phrase, “anyone can be anything!”
Well, when it comes to movies, especially fanciful children’s yarns, not everybody gets to live out their dream, find the treasure, or have an ambitiously emotional dance number to save the farm. But whoever says dreams don’t come true has never heard of one Jose Hernandez – the astronaut and real life hero highlighted in Prime Video’s A Million Miles Away.
The words “unforgettable” and “inspirational” get thrown around a lot, but in this case those are entirely accurate and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more appropriate means of expressing how you’ll feel after this film’s final moments. After all, it’s is based on Hernandez’ life as laid out in the autobiographical novel, “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmer Turned Astronaut”.
For two full hours, we are treated to writer/director Alejandra Márquez Abella letting us witnesses pivotal times in Hernandez’ life (farm work, grade school, first love and his long quest to join NASA). With a fire in his belly and his eyes locked on the stars, Jose pushes past every hurdle…even ones he didn’t get over the first, second or twelfth time. The story really is proof positive that if you believe it, you can achieve it.
To help bring this story to life, veteran actor Michael Pena plays the real-life astronaut whose success story is as long as it is as lengthy as it is earned. The struggles put on screen seem insurmountable on Earth let alone what Jose encountered to get from here to the stratosphere.
In those numerous times where Jose fell short of his goal(s), the film highlights the importance his family played in not taking no or be defeated by things deemed unfair. In many ways, the heroes of the film are Jose’s father and his girlfriend turned wife.
If it weren’t for them, Jose might not have continued pushing for what he wanted.
And what is powerful and tangible about this story is that just when he starts gaining a little bit of traction, it doesn’t mean he’s on easy street. Like his father said in one important scene, “if it gets hard, then you need to get stronger.” Imagine if we all had that kind of fair, honest and consistent backing.
G-S-T RULING:
It’s hard not to fall in love with the characters as well as the dreams they pursue and it isn’t until Jose met somebody similarly ambitious that helped him really focus and get a little closer to his goals. Although that doesn’t mean things automatically fall in place once you’ve tried hard enough.Shooting for space is one thing, and it’s a whole new batch of challenges once you’re up there. Just take a look at Ridley Scott’s adaptation of The Martian.
There’s lots to love and take away from this film and I promise that if you were to take one thing away from these 121 minutes, it’s that whatever you want is possible. But it’s not about simply wanting something, it’s about having the strength and determination to manifest it. Both Jose and Alejandra show us the possibility of that.
