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Welcome To A Million Miles Away 2023 movie review. A Million Miles Away is a 2023 American biographical drama film directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella and starring Michael Peña as José M. Hernández, the first Mexican-American astronaut..

The film chronicles Hernández’s journey from migrant farmworker to astronaut, highlighting his perseverance, determination, and the support of his family and community along the way. It also explores themes of family, community, and the American dream.

The film opens with Hernández as a young boy growing up in California as the son of migrant workers from Mexico. Despite his family’s humble circumstances, Hernández dreams of one day becoming an astronaut. He is encouraged by his teacher, Ms. Young, who recognizes his potential and helps him to develop his academic skills.

Hernández eventually goes on to earn a degree in engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and is accepted into NASA’s astronaut program in 1998. He trains for many years before finally being selected for a mission to the International Space Station in 2009.

A Million Miles Away is a moving and inspiring film that celebrates Hernández’s accomplishments and the American dream. It is also a testament to the power of family, community, and perseverance.

The film has been praised for its authentic depiction of Hernández’s life and experiences, as well as its strong performances and technical achievements. It is a must-see film for anyone interested in the story of José M. Hernández, the first Mexican-American astronaut, or in films that explore themes of family, community, and overcoming adversity.

Character development

The character development in the movie “A Million Miles Away” is focused on the protagonist, José M. Hernández. The film follows Hernández from his childhood as the son of migrant workers in California to his adulthood as the first Mexican-American astronaut.

Hernández is portrayed as a hardworking, determined, and intelligent young man. He is also kind-hearted and compassionate, and he is always willing to help others. Hernández’s dream of becoming an astronaut is inspired by his love of science and his desire to explore the unknown. However, he also faces many challenges along the way, including discrimination, financial hardship, and self-doubt.

Despite the challenges he faces, Hernández never gives up on his dream. He perseveres through difficult training and years of waiting before finally being selected for a mission to the International Space Station in 2009.

Throughout the film, Hernández undergoes significant character development. He learns to believe in himself and his abilities, even when others don’t. He also learns to appreciate the importance of family and community support. By the end of the film, Hernández has become a confident and accomplished man who has achieved his lifelong dream.

Here are some specific examples of Hernández’s character development throughout the film:

 As a child, Hernández is shy and unsure of himself. However, he is also curious and intelligent. He is inspired by his teacher, Ms. Young, to pursue his dreams, even though he comes from a humble background.

 As a young man, Hernández is more confident and assertive. He is also more aware of the challenges he faces as a Mexican-American in the United States. However, he is still determined to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut.

 As an astronaut, Hernández is highly skilled and experienced. He is also a role model for other Mexican-Americans and immigrants.

Overall, the character development in “A Million Miles Away” is well-written and believable. Hernández’s journey from childhood to adulthood is both inspiring and relatable. He is a complex and well-developed character who audiences can root for and learn from.

Themes

The American dream: The film is a classic rags-to-riches story about José M. Hernández, the first Mexican-American astronaut. Hernández comes from a humble background, but he is able to achieve his dream through hard work, perseverance, and the support of his family and community.

Perseverance: Hernández faces many challenges throughout his journey, but he never gives up on his dream. He is an inspiration to us all that anything is possible if we set our minds to it.

Family and community: Hernández’s family and community play a vital role in his success. They support him through difficult times and encourage him to never give up on his dreams.

Diversity and inclusion: Hernández is a role model for other Mexican-Americans and immigrants. He shows that anyone can achieve their dreams, regardless of their background.

In addition to these main themes, the film also explores other topics such as:

Education: Education is essential to Hernández’s success. He is able to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut because of the education he receives.

Discrimination: Hernández faces discrimination throughout his journey due to his race and ethnicity. However, he is able to overcome these challenges through his resilience and determination.

Self-doubt: Hernández experiences self-doubt at various times throughout his journey. However, he is able to overcome these doubts and believe in himself.

Direction

Alejandra Márquez Abella’s direction of the movie “A Million Miles Away” is praised for its authenticity, sensitivity, and technical achievements.

Abella, who is also the co-writer of the film, has a deep understanding of Hernández’s story and the challenges he faced. She uses her knowledge and experience to create a film that is both realistic and inspiring.

Abella’s direction is also notable for its sensitivity. She portrays Hernández’s journey with compassion and understanding. She also explores the themes of the film in a nuanced and thought-provoking way.

Finally, Abella’s direction is technically impressive. The film is beautifully shot and edited. The special effects are also well-done and help to create a sense of realism and wonder.

Here are some specific examples of Abella’s direction in the film:

 Abella uses a variety of camera angles and shots to convey Hernández’s emotions and experiences. For example, she uses close-up shots to show Hernández’s determination and perseverance. She also uses wide shots to show the vastness of space and the smallness of humanity in the grand scheme of things.

 Abella uses lighting and color to create a specific mood and atmosphere for each scene. For example, she uses warm colors to convey the warmth and love of Hernández’s family. She also uses cold colors to convey the harshness and isolation of space.

 Abella uses editing to create a sense of pace and rhythm in the film. For example, she uses fast-paced editing to create excitement and suspense during the launch and landing scenes. She also uses slow-paced editing to create a sense of wonder and awe during the spacewalk scenes.

Overall, Abella’s direction of “A Million Miles Away” is superb. She creates a film that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. She also does a masterful job of portraying Hernández’s journey and the themes of the film.

Cinematography

The cinematography of the movie “A Million Miles Away” is by Dariela Ludlow Deloya, a Mexican cinematographer who has won numerous awards for her work. Deloya’s cinematography in the film is praised for its beauty, realism, and technical achievements.

Deloya uses a variety of camera angles and shots to convey the emotions and experiences of the characters. For example, she uses close-up shots to show the determination and perseverance of José M. Hernández, the protagonist of the film. She also uses wide shots to show the vastness of space and the smallness of humanity in the grand scheme of things.

Deloya also uses lighting and color to create a specific mood and atmosphere for each scene. For example, she uses warm colors to convey the warmth and love of Hernández’s family. She also uses cold colors to convey the harshness and isolation of space.

Finally, Deloya’s cinematography is technically impressive. The film is beautifully shot and edited. The special effects are also well-done and help to create a sense of realism and wonder.

Here are some specific examples of Deloya’s cinematography in the film:

 In the scene where Hernández is training in a centrifuge, Deloya uses a hand-held camera to create a sense of movement and disorientation. This helps to convey the physical and emotional challenges that Hernández is facing.

 In the scene where Hernández is on board the space shuttle during launch, Deloya uses a wide shot to show the vastness of space and the smallness of the shuttle. 

 In the scene where Hernández is on board the International Space Station during a spacewalk, Deloya uses a variety of camera angles and shots to show the beauty of the Earth from space. She also uses close-up shots to show Hernández’s reactions to the experience.

Overall, Deloya’s cinematography in “A Million Miles Away” is superb. She creates a film that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. She also does a masterful job of portraying Hernández’s journey and the themes of the film.

Music

The music of the movie “A Million Miles Away” is composed by Camilo Lara, a Mexican musician and producer. Lara’s score for the film is praised for its beauty, emotion, and cultural authenticity.

Lara uses a variety of musical elements in his score, including traditional Mexican instruments, electronic sounds, and orchestral music. He blends these elements together to create a unique and evocative sound that perfectly complements the film’s story and visuals.

The score for “A Million Miles Away” is also notable for its emotional impact. Lara uses music to convey the full range of Hernández’s emotions, from his determination and perseverance to his doubts and fears. He also uses music to create a sense of wonder and awe as Hernández explores the vastness of space.

Here are some specific examples of the music in the film:

 In the scene where Hernández is training in a centrifuge, Lara uses a fast-paced and energetic piece of music to convey the physical and emotional challenges that Hernández is facing.

 In the scene where Hernández is on board the space shuttle during launch, Lara uses a soaring and uplifting piece of music to convey the sense of awe and wonder that Hernández is experiencing.

 In the scene where Hernández is on board the International Space Station during a spacewalk, Lara uses a beautiful and ethereal piece of music to convey the beauty of the Earth from space.

Overall, the music of “A Million Miles Away” is outstanding. Lara creates a score that is both emotionally resonant and culturally authentic. He perfectly complements the film’s story and visuals, and he helps to bring Hernández’s journey to life.

In addition to the original score, the film also features a number of licensed songs, including:

 “California Dreamin'” by The Mamas & the Papas

 “96 Tears” by ? & The Mysterians

 “True” by Spandau Ballet

 “This Land Is Your Land” by The Kingston Trio

These songs are used to create a sense of nostalgia and to evoke the different time periods and places that Hernández experiences throughout his journey.

Overall, the music of “A Million Miles Away” is a vital part of the film’s success. It helps to create a moving and inspiring experience for audiences.

Personal Opinion

I found “A Million Miles Away” to be a heartwarming and inspiring film. It is a classic rags-to-riches story about José M. Hernández, the first Mexican-American astronaut. Hernández comes from a humble background, but he is able to achieve his dream through hard work, perseverance, and the support of his family and community.

I was particularly impressed by the film’s authentic portrayal of Hernández’s journey. The film does not shy away from the challenges that he faced, such as discrimination and financial hardship. However, it also shows how Hernández overcame these challenges through his strength and determination.

I also appreciated the film’s focus on the importance of family and community. Hernández’s family and community play a vital role in his success. They support him through difficult times and encourage him to never give up on his dreams.

Finally, I was inspired by the film’s message that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Hernández’s story is a reminder that we can all achieve our dreams, regardless of our background or circumstances.

Overall, I highly recommend “A Million Miles Away” to anyone looking for a heartwarming and inspiring film.

Here are some additional thoughts on the film:

 I think the film does a great job of showing the challenges that Hernández faced as a Mexican-American immigrant in the United States. He faces discrimination from his classmates, teachers, and even his fellow astronauts. However, he never lets this stop him from pursuing his dream.

 I also like how the film shows the importance of education in Hernández’s success. He was able to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut because of the education he received.

 I think the film is a great role model for young people, especially those from underrepresented groups. It shows that anything is possible if you set your mind to it and work hard.

Overall, I think “A Million Miles Away” is a great film that everyone should see. It is a heartwarming and inspiring story about a man who overcame many challenges to achieve his dream.

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