Feb 10, 2026
Spiritually Speaking at the Movies. quote from Hidden Figures. It is 1963: "A person with an engineers mind, should be an engineer,” Kalinksi insists.
“I am a negro woman,” Mary replies. “I will not entertain the impossible.”
“And I am a Polish Jew whose parents died in a Nazi prison camp,” he says. “Now I am standing beneath a space ship that is going to carry an astronaut to the stars. I think we can say, we are are living the impossible.”
Spiritually Speaking at the Movies: "Hidden Figures," PG 2hrs. This is my pick for “Best Black History Month” entry. It is expertly told, shot, acted and solidly sells the reason for a the contributions of Black Americans without beating viewers over the head with “messaging.” Spiritually speaking, there are layers after layers to grab ahold of. The story is taken from the book, “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story” by Margot Shetterly. Take a moment to view the film. I believe it will be the best investment two hours you may make this month.
A note:
I normally resist writing long articles. It is indulgence for one, and for another, people don’t have the time to wade through it. In this case, however, the movie Hidden Figures is so packed with one revelation after another, I simply gave up trying to briefly describe the layers of meaning. Suffice to say, there is plenty here.
Because of that, after the normal “Quick Review,” there is an extensive, deep dive into the remaining nuances. It was a pleasure to write it, because I don’t see many movies that deserve it. This one does, and yes, there are spoilers there. Don’t read the “Full Review” if that’s a problem. What you can come away with is an understanding of significant events leading to a story’s remarkable conclusion, without having the see the movie right away. People should see it though.
The Quick Review :
“Hidden Figures” It is an easy, inspiring movie-story to see, a good 1960’s space-race story to hear and spiritual speaking, one we need to see in America at this time. Please spread the word about this movie.
Should you see it? Absolutely. This is a PG movie with a punch, good for the whole family. It is meaningful, delightful, sometimes funny, always poignant. The makers of “Hidden Figures” have done us all a favor with this true story.
What is so great about “Hidden Figures” is that the dialogue about space engineering could be so endlessly tedious and bogged down into details it could be unwatchable. But the genius of the film is how the actors, director and writers work together to make an edge-of-your-seat story about the larger picture of the nation’s space race and the 1960’s culture, while including the story of the women who helped America leap ahead. Ignored women. Black women. May I say, since I lived through that time, the depictions all seemed so realistic.
This film reflection of what occurred in the sixties carries an authenticity not easily duplicated in fiction writing, making Hidden Figures a treasure. Hidden Figures” carries us along in a true-life battle; that of suffering and a type of salvation.
It is irresistible. May I say, Let us not disregard or dismiss seeing it because we are too busy working in our fields and simply cannot come.
End quick review.
The Full Review: Unpacking "Hidden Figures."
If there were ever a film convincing one of the power of movies - a film that could change a person’s life’s perceptions in a flash, engineering a transformation - “Hidden Figures” may be that film.
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In the first two minutes of “Hidden Figures,” there is a cure for racism towards black Americans, if there is even a recalcitrant trace of it still hidden in the heart.
This cure does not come after viewing, say, the violent injustice of a mob lynching, or the intransigent insistence of militant resistance to the abuse of authority. It comes not from a protest but from the solving of a problem.
A math problem. And a little child, Katherine Johnson, shall lead them.
The revelation of her genius comes early on, showing a pre-teen girl at a high school chalkboard, solving a complex math equation with ease. The rest of the her classmates — including the instructor — are astonished at her understanding. She is black, and I would normally say that is quite besides the point. But in this story, it is precisely the point.
For us to consider, is little Katherine Johnson, a 6th grader in an advanced class. She is a jewel of mathematical understanding in human form. We see that the awesome brain and its capabilities are given indiscriminately by the Maker of all mankind. Here she is to show off — quite innocently and without ego — her gift from God.
The gut-punch realization is that somehow, God himself seems to be showing off some of his best work for our benefit, as if he is saying, “Can you hear me now?”
How in the world — looking at Katherine quietly explaining her solution to the class, a mathematical explanation I could never hope to understand — could hate, dislike or denigrate her because she is black? It’s simply absurd.
Katherine informs her astonished class, “Once you do this, mathematically It’s pretty straight forward.” You can almost hear the 12-year-Jesus astonishing teachers in the temple.
The question presented in the film is now, “what shall we do with her — and those like her?” Read on for the entire story of “Hidden Figures.”
More: The Complete Story of "The Three":in Hidden Figures
The story soon focuses on three gifted women; the adult Katherine, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn working for NASA in Virginia during the space-race era of the early 1960’s. They are all brilliant in their way. They are all ignored despite what they are capable of. As viewers we may squirm in our seats, wanting to see the solution to their problems and vicariously, our own. There are obstacles to overcome.
Yet the three women escape the bitter bile of resentment, that destiny of destruction to the human spirit, because, well, they pray. The women prepare themselves, instead, for the "open door no man can shut."
In a genuine-sounding church scene, The Three hear the pastor says, “His faith in us, knows no limits. The Lord has our very own women working on rocket ships. Praise God that change is coming.”
This is not Hollywood hyperbole, or a wishful script of “how should we then live,” so many films rely on today. It is a truth these women lived out. It’s their history.
It is all the more relevant today to any American who yearns for a better life. At the church picnic, Mary tells her militant leaning civil rights husband who does not share her views, “There is more than one way to accomplish something.”
And, finally, the doors open for all three. And not only for them. One of the three, DorothyVaughn, insist upon, and then takes 30 women with her to “the next level” of computing. There are shades of the Exodus in that scene.
The point? When the door opens, The Three are ready for their path. Others are ready to follow. In this movie, no one is left behind.
Along the way, encouragement at NASA comes to The Three from curious places.
Mary Jackson, is standing next to a prototype of the first Mercury space capsule and is asked to put forth her conclusion of a physical problem to the craft. The engineer in charge, Karl Zelinski, accepts her conclusions, then encourages her to become an engineer. She pretends not to hear him.
“A person with an engineers mind, should be an engineer,” he insists.
“I am a negro woman,” Mary replies. “I will not entertain the impossible.”
“And I am a Polish Jew whose parents died in a Nazi prison camp,” he says. “Now I am standing beneath a space ship that is going to carry an astronaut to the stars. I think we can say, we are are living the impossible.”
At this prompting, Mary, who is not allowed to attend segregated school needed for her engineering degree, appeals to a judge for a variance. Even Mary’s husband says, “A female engineer? We are negros. Ain’t no such thing. Understand?”
But Mary, armed with faith, tries “the impossible.” Her appeal to a judge ready to enforce segregation is one of the most eloquently spoken and well thought out prepared speech I have heard in films. The very wisdom of Solomon seems on display.
The point is, be prepared with wisdom when the door opens. Mary is prepared, the judge is swayed and history — real history, OUR history — is about to be made. Thank you Mary Jackson.
Lead engineer Paul Stafford (Jim Parsons), in a room full of engineers all wearing white shirts and ties, has a hard time accepting Katherine. She is ordered to double check Stafford's figures. He makes it hard on her, not giving her all the information because, one, in his mind his calculations are already correct, and two, she “does not have the clearance," to see his work.
But Katherine does the “work arounds” and all by herself, shows why America’s rocket ships are failing at the launching pad on a big blackboard in the engineering room for all to see.
In the end, no one less than Astronaut John Glen, America’s first man to orbit the earth, relies on Katherine’s calculations to give him the confidence to go into space and make history. And Paul Stafford comes around.
Kevin Costne,r as Flight Director Al Harrison, is convincing as an understated character awash in life-threatening details. He is looking for any qualified person to help “do the math that hasn’t been invented yet.” Katherine Johnson is that person, but will she be of help before it’s too late?
Katherine’s contributions, the main feature of the movie, is so remarkable, buildings at NASA have been named after her. She is later credited in life with saving an Apollo launch. Not bad for an ignored black woman in a white man's world.
If any of these lines were spoken simply by a Hollywood script, it would sound tinny and unreal, as if trying to create a reality by suggestion. That is not the case here.
As a result, the film reflectioncarries an authenticity not easily duplicated in fiction writing, anddmaking it a treasure of a movie.
If you are that person who needs an “open door no man can shut”, take the short time to view, pause and consider, “Hidden Figures.” I believe it will be the best investment of two hours you will make this month.
“Hidden Figures.” 2016. PG. 2hrs. Kevin Costner as NASA Flight director Al Harrison; Tariji P. Henson as Katherine Johnson; Jim Parsons as Paul Stafford; Kirsten Dunst as Vivian Mitchell; Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughn; Janelle Monae asMary Jackson; Glen Powell as John Glenn and Oleg Krupa as Mercury engineer Karl Zilinski.