“There are no borders when you view the Earth from space.” These words are not only uttered by Jose M. Hernandez, a Mexican American NASA Astronaut, but also resonate throughout his cinematic biopic A Million Miles Away. Helmed by the visionary director, Alejandra Marquez, and rivetingly portrayed by the versatile actor, Michael Pena, the film provides a profound exploration of Hernandez’s extraordinary and inspiring life journey.
“Dichotomy” might be the keyword to encapsulate Hernandez’s life, as depicted in the film. Hernandez’s journey from fields to the realm of stars perfectly follows Aristotle’s theory of peripeteia, a significant shift in the plot leading to a change in the hero’s fortunes. Coming from a family of Mexican migrant farm workers, Pena’s “Hernandez” battles societal constraints, economic pitfalls, unacceptance in myriad forms, and the fear of pursuing unforeseen dreams.
Marquez depicts Hernandez’s life against a panorama of socio-political events and personal experiences, brilliantly juxtaposing Hernandez’s life with the broad cultural, ethnic, and economic landscape of America. A Million Miles Away is not just an individual’s journey to space; it’s about the journey of an underrepresented community and the resonation of their collective voice in a space where it was seemingly unheard. Focusing on dialogue and narrative, Marquez paints the unseen plight of the migrant workers and their dreams that are often lost in the vast fields they tirelessly work on. Hernandez’s journey is a symbolic representation of these unheard dreams reaching the horizons of possibility.
Michael Peña’s portrayal of Jose Hernandez is nothing short of exceptional. With his nuanced performance, Peña brings Hernandez’s character to life, capturing his determination, resilience, and unwavering optimism. Peña’s ability to convey the complex emotions that Hernandez experienced throughout his journey adds depth and relatability to the character. His performance is both captivating and emotionally resonant, ensuring that the audience becomes fully invested in Hernandez’s story.
Unlike the expected heroic journey films, Hernandez portraits a man of normality tangled up with day-to-day chores – from doing diapers to the laundries – that has an ambition of touching the sky and going beyond. According to the director, she did not mean to depict a hero. She intended to portrait a man of doubt and shadow that struggles for his dream.
The dream of being an astronaut orbited around 10-year-old Jose’s head as he was watching Apollo landing, on TV. “My father had an important role in my life. After he found out about my passion, he just sat me down in the kitchen and gave me four ingredients recipe and I added perseverance to it.” Jose Fernandez said in one of his interviews. And the film astutely follows the advice episodically. From “knowing the purpose of life” to “preparing for the challenges” we are there with Jose’s persistence applying for Nasa dozen times. But as Beto (Bobby Soto), his cousin, believed: “Who better than a migrant” to go to the space.
One of the film’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to depict the impact that Jose Hernandez’s dream has on those around him. The film emphasizes the sacrifices made by his family, particularly his parents, who labor tirelessly to support his aspirations. The emotional scenes between Hernandez and his parents are both heartwarming and tear-jerking, offering a glimpse into the enduring love and support that fuels his determination. It is impossible to dispute Miss Young (Michelle Krusiec), his teacher ‘s influence. Jose’s love of mathematics, his need for knowledge, and his ambition to become an astronaut caught her attention. She made Jose’s father to settle down and stop relocating to work on farmlands because of his son’s education.
One of the key components is the relationship between Jose and his wife “Adela,” played by Canadian American actress Rosa Bianca Salazar. Adela neglected her own dream – opening a restaurant – to foster her husband’s one. The relationship, its intimacy and even the boredom and tiredness has been plausibly illustrated thanks to Michael Pena and Rosa Salazar’s skillful performances.
While A Million Miles Away is an awe-inspiring and inspiring film, it does occasionally slip into predictable storytelling tropes. The narrative follows a familiar pattern of underdog overcoming obstacles, which may feel cliché to some viewers. However, the film’s sincerity and emotional resonance make up for these slight shortcomings.
A Million Miles Away is an uplifting and captivating film that tells the remarkable story of Jose Hernandez’s journey to become an astronaut. Alejandra Marquez’s direction, combined with Michael Peña’s outstanding performance, brings to life the challenges, triumphs, and emotional complexities of Hernandez’s life. The film reminds viewers of the incredible power of human determination and the importance of never giving up on one’s dreams.
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