Hidden Figures is the story of three African-American women working as “computers” for NASA in the 1960’s, right around the time that the USA launched a man into space.

In my mind, this film could not have come at a better time. With inauguration day looming on the horizon, the future feels uncertain and scary for many Americans. But the true story of these three women is a glimmer of hope in the midst of our reality.

Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson are close friends, working at NASA together as “computers.” This term, though it sounds strange to our modern ears, signifies that these women “check the math” of other scientists at NASA. They are essentially human calculators.

As the story continues, however, Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary endeavor to break the glass ceiling in their respective fields. Katherine seeks to be recognized for her mathematical talent in a room full of white males, Dorothy tries to move up to the position of supervisor in her division, and Mary applies for classes to become the first African-American woman engineer.

There is struggle, adversity, hard work, and love woven throughout this film. It sends a message both about the complexity of love and the power of determination. It calls on us to constantly ask questions of the society we live in, and never to give up on our passions.

Besides these more serious takeaways, it is also wonderfully and simply entertaining. The snappy dialogue between the three women and their stubborn colleagues, not to mention an eclectically whimsical soundtrack, will leave you feeling light-hearted and content.

So when you’re trying to decide what movie to go to this weekend, (in the wake of Friday’s event I might add) consider seeing Hidden Figures. It will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful for the future.