If you’re a fan of space travel adventures and inspiring biopics, ‘A Million Miles Away’ is practically an unmissable film. The recently premiered movie has received high praise from both critics and audiences for its compelling narrative. When it comes to watching ‘A Million Miles Away,’ there’s one question that seems to pop up in everyone’s minds – is it based on the true story of José Hernández? Let’s take a look at what we know about the movie and explore the real-life story of the astronaut.
What is ‘A Million Miles Away’ about?
A Million Miles Away revolves around the inspirational journey of José Hernández and how he achieved success from his humble beginnings. Born in a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, Hernández aspires to become a NASA flight engineer.
The movie takes viewers on a decades-long journey. It starts from the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, California, where Hernández’s family migrated to pursue a better life. The journey finally takes us all the way to the International Space Station, 200 miles above.
The heart of A Million Miles Away lies in José Hernández’s determination and how his hardworking parents, relatives, and teachers turned his dream into reality. It shows how he overcame obstacles like missing school to help his parents who worked on a farm.
The movie is based on José Hernández’s autobiography, “Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut,” which came out in 2012.
José Hernández’s true story explained
The true story of José Hernández propels the emotion behind A Million Miles Away. Hernández had dreamed of becoming an astronaut from a very young age. His Latino migrant family made a series of sacrifices to support his dream of entering space.
He applied to the NASA space program and faced rejection 11 times before they finally accepted him. Fast forward to 2009, José Hernández was assigned to the crew of the Space Shuttle mission STS-128 as a mission specialist.
Now, José Hernández is 61 years old and lives in Stockton, California. He co-founded the aerospace consulting firm Tierra Luna. Despite his achievements, he sticks true to his roots and still picks grapes with his father.
Together, they sell their own line of wines called Tierra Luna Cellars. Apart from writing the bestselling book about his life, José Hernández also serves as a motivational speaker.
Where to Watch A Million Miles Away
A Million Miles Away premiered in US theaters for a limited time on Friday, September 8, 2023. The movie is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video almost worldwide. Actor Michael Peña takes on the role of José Hernández with utmost conviction.
Reserve tickets now to the A Million Miles Away Prime Premiere on Sept 13 at 7pm local time! Prime members + a guest will enjoy an early screening of the movie at their local theater with free concessions, photo ops, and special giveaways. https://t.co/MZRur29sVg pic.twitter.com/LEgDlC6YsU
— Prime Movies (@primemovies) September 8, 2023
The 47-year-old is best known for his roles in The Martian and Ant-Man. Other cast members include Rosa Salazar, Bobby Soto, Sarayu Blue, Veronica Falcon, and Julio Cesar Cedillo. The film is directed by Alejandra Marquez Abella.
So far, A Million Miles Away has a commendable Rotten Tomatoes rating of 86% and an IMDb score of 7.6/10. Critics have praised how José Hernández’s inspiring story has been captured without losing its true essence.
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