October Sky

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There’s that old saying “Reach for the moon. You not might make it but you’ll fall amongst the stars”. I guess that’s the case for a lot of people who don’t achieve their dreams in life, but can still experience the light and magnificence of others who do. But in the case of Homer Hickam, he reached for the moon, and beyond. And like only a select few, he achieved his dream.

In the late 1950’s, the eyes of the world where on Sputnik; the first satellite launched into space by Russia. It was the early days of the Space Race, and the world was captivated by mans newfound ability to send devices into space via rockets. The first man in space was a few years away, and man on the moon wouldn’t be for another decade. With these milestones still to be achieved, the imagination of every person on the planet was captivated, and probably none more captivated than that of young Homer.

Growing up with his family in the town of Coalwood, it’s tradition for the boys to leave school, and become the men who work in the town’s coal mine. The women became their wives, and that’s how life was in this working class town. Homers father John, was the Big Chief of this mine, and a hard working man. His life was spent underground, digging in the dark and breathing in coal fumes. It’s what he was made for, but Homer couldn’t see himself following in his father’s footsteps. After watching the launch of Sputnik into outer space, Homer gathers up his three pals to help him build rockets and fire them off.

At first, the boys struggle with the process of building and launching even the smallest rockets, and blow up Homer’s garden fence and almost get hit a few times themselves. They become the laughing stock of the school, populated by boys who would all play football, and it doesn’t help that Homers father has no faith in his son’s obsession and determination, essentially telling him to get his head out of the clouds and keep his eyes to the ground; become a coal miner like him, and like everyone else in town expected him to be.

But along the way, Homer has some support by his teacher Miss Riley (Laura Dern), who wants to see at least one student break out of the town and coal miner fate and be something more. She recognises the potential in Homer before he sees it in himself, and encourages him to keep building rockets until he can make it work. After many failed experiment’s Homer and his mates slowly get more confident and crafty in their mission to build and launch a rocket.

October Sky is heartfelt and inspiring little film. Starring a young and then unknown Jake Gylenhall, he showed his acting chops were well refined even at the age of 19. He’s joined by a strong cast in supporting roles, including Chris Cooper as his dad, who audiences will recognise from “American Beauty” as the father of Richie, the weird kid with the video camera. Cooper carries the burden of a man who has accepted his lot in life and gets on with the job, but still shows humility and understanding under the surface, even when he sees his son Homer start to step out of the dark, gloomy town and way of life that is Coalwood and become something more.

The story in the film is based on the novel written by the character himself. Homers journey here is one that will determine the course of his life, and no matter what challenges are thrown his way, whether that be the town ridiculing him, his school trying to shrink his enthusiasm and his father constantly putting him down, Homer perseveres. He has a mission; to fly his rockets. And he has a dream; to go into space.

October Sky is a classic example of the dreams of youth, which can so often be dispelled by the mundane existence that life can become, especially in a small place with small minds that don’t dare venture into the unknown. It will inspire you to revisit those childhood dreams, rise above the limitations around you and shoot for the stars. If you work long enough and hard enough, you can get there. Homer Hickam did, going on to train astronauts for NASA after graduating from college. 

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