The Bottom Line’s Recommendation of the Week
This week The Bottom Line recommends one story told 2 ways. The movie “Hidden Figures” directed by Theodore Melfi and Mary Lee Shetterly’s book “Hidden Figures” is a story worth hearing. For those unaware, “Hidden Figures” is based on a true story. This month The Bottom Line is celebrating Women’s History Month by recommending literature and entertainment either celebrating women and/or created by women. “Hidden Figures” falls into both of those categories. Shetterly’s book tells the amazing story of three African American women’s struggle to be recognized as equal to their white coworkers at NASA. In the movie, you follow the life of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. These three women fought for equality in work and life. Set during the civil rights movement when Jim Crow laws were still considered legal, these women had made it to a top-tier profession despite the barriers set in place to limit Black success. Both the book and the movie have received rewards from a multitude of organizations.
In 2016, months after the 
book’s publication and days after the movie’s release date, “Hidden Figures” won 6 Women Film Critics Circle awards including Best Ensemble, Best Female Images in a Movie, and the Josephine Baker Award. In 2017, the movie won, the Satellite Award for Best Cast, the National Board of Review awards for Best Cast and Top 10 Films, the NAACP award for Outstanding Motion Picture, the BET award for Best Film, and so many others. The book won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction in 2017 a year after publishing. The movie receives a 7.8 out of 10 from IMDb, and the book receives a 3.9 out of 5 from Goodreads. There are a few disclaimers we must announce.
IMDb lists alcoholism, profanity, and frightening scenes as possible triggers, however, if you have read our other recommendations you would know that our main source of triggers in movies is Does the Dog Die. They list gaslighting, claustrophobic scenes, the death of a loved one, anti semitism, and hate speech. The Bottom Line recommends the book and the movie to all audiences, although there is profanity, “Hidden Figures” is based on a true story. They are representing parts of American history that most of the population never hears about. We recommend this story for all audiences including children, there are children’s versions of the book telling the story of the successful women but not the struggles they face. The movie can be found on Tubi Tv and Freevee for free, and it is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and the book can be bought on Amazon. The Bottom Line rates the story 5/5 stars, the movie 4/5 stars, and the book 5/5 stars. Next week we will be recommending a podcast!
Does the Dog Die: doesthedogdie.com
The Author
