At its most basic premise, “Hidden Figures” is the story of three African American women whose contributions to NASA remained an unknown story for far too long. But beneath this umbrella plot are smaller stories that add to the importance and support of the main narrative. While the film arguably centers specifically on the work and perseverance of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), it is the stories of Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) and Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) that bolster the meaning behind “Hidden Figures” and creates a more dynamic, meaningful message for audiences.
In a video essay from Lessons From The Screenplay, we take a closer look at how the subplots in “Hidden Figures” coalesce with the main story. The main point of the sub-narratives, especially with this case study, is to support the main framework. Although the storylines of Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn do not have as much screen time as the story of Katherine Johnson, their meaning and value mimic that of Katherine’s. We see these three women struggle with adverse demonstrations of sexism and racism, with all three inevitably overcoming these horrendous obstacles to attain their goal, making history along the way.
The stories of Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Katherine Johnson also resonate a specific theme and carry the message through the duration of the film. In mapping out these structures, the video essay creates a detailed diagram with specific references detailing the elements of subplot: desire, inciting incident, conflict and struggle, climax, and resolution. In a matter of two hours, “Hidden Figures” accomplishes these five points while maintaining a coherent tone that perfectly matches the synchronicity of its message. When a film adaptation of her story was proposed, the real-life Katherine Johnson insisted that the stories of her friends, coworkers, and fellow change makers be heralded. The three threads audiences are told by way of “Hidden Figures” creates change in our perception of history, and bolsters the importance of telling unsung tales that deserve to be seen and heard.
