Reach For The Stars: ‘A Million Miles Away’ Review

“What are stars for?” A young seven-year-old José Moreno Hernández, played by Juan Pablo Monterrubio, pondered as he stared intently at the small television displaying the Apollo 11 liftoff. His eyes were filled with wonder as the rocket began to soar out of the atmosphere and into the unknown. It sparked a burning curiosity that would stay with him for years, waiting to be satiated upon witnessing a breathtaking sight of the ground shrinking as the space shuttle carries him into the vast unknown of space. In his soul, he intuitively believed traveling to space was something he had to accomplish in his lifetime, declaring it to be his ultimate dream. 

A Million Miles Away (2023) is a biopic drama film, based on a true story, depicting the life of José M. Hernández, a Mexican American NASA flight engineer and astronaut, who is played by Michael Peña, as he embarks on his journey to go into space. From a farm worker to a NASA astronaut, José Hernández navigated new landscapes to fulfill his aspirations. The film includes sprinkled moments of his life that have contributed to shaping him throughout his lengthy journey. It is an inspiring tale of tenacity and sacrifice.  

In an interview with Founder and Executive Producer of Muse TV Michael Sandoval, director Alejandra Marquez mentioned she had to fight for the opportunity to portray Hernández’s story, and she sought to masterfully convey the joys and sorrows of pursuing a life-long dream while encompassing Hernández’s distinct story, which she effectively succeeded in. In answering a question revolving around the importance of authentically representing Hernández’s story, she articulated, "I had a parallelism with José; I thought that if he got to walk into NASA with that confidence and with that, you know pride. I could do the same with my first English-language film, and I did.” 

There are two themes revolving around the core of the story. The first and more prominent theme is sacrificing parts of one’s present to ensure a more prosperous future. As the son of immigrant parents who moved to the United States in search of better pay, José witnessed his parents make many sacrifices for the wellbeing of his siblings and himself. One example follows his teacher expressing concerns over the family’s constant moving. As they settled wherever there was work, his parents realized if they continued, they would stifle their children’s education and ultimately leave their future in the fields, picking food just like them. In doing so, they passed up the prospect of purchasing a house in Michoacán, Mexico. Throughout the events of Hernández’s life, the motif is explored in numerous contexts, each revealing a new perspective. 

Perseverance in the face of setbacks is the second theme discussed. In life, failure is inevitable, and Hernández has faced many failures throughout his life, but he’s refused to allow them to overtake his being and persisted in continuing forward. A prominent example shown in the film is the myriad of applications sent to NASA in hopes of being one of the lucky few to be chosen for the space program, only to be let down by rejection again and again. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, he uses his strength to remain vigilant, although there were many times when he wanted to give up. 

The character development of Hernández’s journey is admirable. Upon making his decision on what he wants to be, he looks at the necessary steps to make it a reality. After finishing college, acquiring an engineering degree, and earning a job at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, he built a name for himself. His job at the laboratory did not satisfy him; he was stereotyped as the janitor by the receptionist and cast aside by most of his colleagues. It was not the image he had conjured up in his mind, but he knew it was only a starting point, not the destination. 

During his time working in the laboratory, he noticed the differences between himself and his colleagues. They drove different cars, ate sandwiches for lunch every day, and had different tastes in music. The differences were prevalent in his mind, haunting him almost mockingly, and in his heart, he knew he did not fit in. Imposter syndrome kicked in with a heavy heart, making him question if he belonged. In an attempt to fit in, he began to change aspects of himself and appear more like his colleagues. He sold his car and bought a new one; he stopped bringing traditional Mexican cuisine for lunch; and he listened to the type of music his coworkers enjoyed. He removes parts of himself to meet the standard in the company, feeling as if he needs to. 

Once his application was accepted into the program, Hernández realized he still had to prove himself. The training is rigorous and difficult; he struggles to keep up with the standards and falls behind the rest of his classmates. During this time, he tries to balance his family life with his work life, however, he is unsuccessful. It was just a hard time in his life, and he questions if traveling to space is worth the effort. His head trainer, Kalpana Chawla (Sarayu Blue), describes the amount of effort put into their dreams as worthwhile. This conversation reenergized his determination to see through all his efforts towards space travel. Struggle after struggle, Hernández found a way to overcome it, and his efforts were fruitful. 

The cast gave outstanding performances that moved the audience deeply. Michael Peña delivers a diverse array of emotions and produces a compelling performance, showcasing his talent as an actor. He displayed a remarkable range in this role. Maneuvering through the heartbreak after tragedies, the frustration of failure, the joy of success, and the passionate scenes were all emotionally charged scenes. No scenes were left with a mediocre performance; Peña truly gave it his all in his role as José Hernández. 

The cinematography was strikingly powerful, elevating the emotional impact and performance while maintaining the overall tone. The inclusion of historical footage of immigrant workers and space launches helped present the story in a novel manner, serving as a reminder that the story is grounded in reality. One scene that was beautifully shot was during a serious discussion between Hernández and his wife. Only the silhouettes of Michael Peña and Rosa Salazar, playing the role of Adela Hernández, could be seen with a blue light coming from the window. Their emotional turmoil, while the audience cannot see their faces, is not distorted but rather intensified. It leaves the audience feeling the same emotions as the characters. 

A Million Miles Away is a brilliant and inspiring film, stacked with impactful precision and an uplifting narrative. The story of José Hernández was dealt with with tremendous amounts of consideration and diligence. Alejandra Marquez adeptly translated his life story into cinema in the most gripping manner. The cinematography elevated the poignant scenes and the excellent performances of the cast. Overall, the film left the audience inspired and served as a reminder that dreams are always within reach if given the effort.