What grabbed me about this film? Of course, the story that it’s based on. The events in the movie actually took place. I don’t rule out that some small details were made up or embellished, but that doesn’t matter at all, because the story itself is real, and so are the characters.
At the center is a Black pilot who faces racist attacks from all sides throughout the film. That’s not surprising, since back then Jesse Brown (that was the main character’s name) became the first Black officer in the U.S. Navy. In the end, he successfully overcomes the attacks and mockery and finds a true friend and comrade. What happened next — I won’t spoil for those who haven’t seen it yet.
Even though it’s a war movie, besides the main plot there’s a lot to love about this film. It’s not a typical movie about explosions, victories, and war — it’s a movie about the people inside it. The relationships between people, their feelings and experiences come to the forefront. No less gripping are the flights themselves and the flight training. The atmosphere of flying is well conveyed through dynamic aerial scenes. Watching it in a theater, it was especially mesmerizing and emotional.
At the time of its release (and even years later), this film wasn’t hyped or advertised as a big blockbuster. I didn’t pass it by, and I don’t regret it. It’s a story that lets you get a little closer to history and dive into Google searching for information about Jesse Brown and his friend Tom Hudner.
