What is your childhood dream?

This true story of a migrant worker who becomes an engineer might be a dream come true for many families, but Jose Hernandez goes on to become the first migrant worker who becomes a NASA astronaut. In A Million Miles Away Christian Movie Review & Parent Guide, I give you the information you need before viewing this movie with your children.

We all have childhood dreams and think, “Maybe someday….” However, not all of us have the perseverance to face rejection and keep plugging away at our dream. This story shows one person who didn’t give up no matter how long it took.

A Million Miles Away Christian Review

Studio Synopsis:

Inspired by the real-life story of a NASA flight engineer, Jose Hernandez, A Million Miles Away follows him on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station. With the support of his family, Jose’s drive and determination culminates in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal.

My Synopsis:

Michael Pena (Ant Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp) plays Jose Hernandez. As a young boy, Jose dreamed of becoming an astronaut after watching the Apollo space mission in 1969. This is in spite of the fact that his family are migrant workers from La Piedad, Michoacán, Mexico. They travel from farm to farm in the United States for 9 months of the year working in the fields. Jose attends the local schools as his family travels. 

One day, his family has a visit from a school teacher who changes the trajectory of his life and causes his family to establish roots that enable Jose to eventually become an engineer. After being rejected by NASA 6 times, his wife asks him a pivotal question – What do the applicants that have been accepted have that you don’t have? 

Christian Review of A Million Miles Away – What Parents Want to Know

Language:

There is the use of the word d-mned, and h-ll. Additionally, there are a few uses of crude words such as dumb, num nuts, freaking, and stupid.

Violence:

After one death, there is mention of the person being killed in a shoot-out.

Footage from a space shuttle that breaks apart and kills the astronauts is shown and discussed.

Additionally, some of the astronaut training involves underwater scenes where a person is having difficulty.

Spiritual Content:

As is common in many Mexican households, there are “shrines” with candles lit for deaths of friends and family as is seen in Coco. (Link)

Jose’s cousin gives him a medal on a chain. It appears to be a religious medal.

Furthermore, a baby is baptized in what is presumed to be a Catholic Church, and a cross is shown hanging on a wall.

Adult Content:

There are frequent depictions of drinking and alcohol (beer and tequila). Additionally,  there are scenes involving people who have died and mourning. Some of this may go over younger children’s heads.

A woman in labor screams.

Deception:

While Jose tells his wife Adela (before they were married) that he dreams of being a NASA astronaut, he doesn’t tell her that he has applied numerous times to the space program. She finds out and feels deceived and wonders why he would not share this with her.

Additionally, Jose is shown trying to hide who he really is from taking “American” food to work, trading in his vehicle for one that will fit in with his co-workers, and changing the music he plays on the radio. 

Furthermore, a young boy interprets from English to Spanish and embellishes what is said.

Other Content:

Jose faces discrimination in the workplace and at school. Children laugh at him and his thick accent. When he begins to work at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, he asks a receptionist about a light bulb in his office that needs replaced, and she thinks he is the janitor and hands him the keys to the supply closet.

There are other instances of discrimination in the workplace.

A Million Miles Away Christian Movie Review – Positive Content:

This is an inspiring story of grit, determination, hard work, and not giving up on your dreams. As a son of a migrant farm worker, Jose Hernandez goes the extra mile to see his dream to fruition. 

Furthermore, Jose’s parents change the course of their lives and give up their dream of a house to give their children more stability and firm roots.

In addition, Jose helps his wife turn her dream into reality. This film turns real-life into hope and inspiration for all of those who are trying to follow their dreams. 

It isn’t enough to talk about your dreams, what are you doing to fulfill those dreams?

A Million Miles Away Movie Review – Christian Viewing Recommendations:

A Million Miles Away is an inspirational true story about one man who achieved his childhood dream. While it is touching and has positive messages, it is probably a little too long for the youngest crowd and may not interest them. Furthermore, some of the movie is in Spanish with subtitles.

However, it is a great family movie, and my overall age recommendation is ages 9 and up.

About the Movie:

Rating: PG

Release Date: September 15, 2023

Runtime: 2 hours, 2 minutes

Genre: Drama

Studio: Amazon Studios

Director: Alejandra Marquez Abella

Written by: Bettina Gillis, Hernán Jiménez, Alejandra Marquez Abella

Producer: Mark Ciardi, Campbell McInnes

Edited by: Hervé Schneid 

Music by: Camilo Lara

Distributed by: 

Cast of A Million Miles Away:

José Moreno Hernández played by Michael Peña 

Adela Hernandez played by Rosa Salazar

Frederick W. Sturckow played by Garret Dillahunt

Beto played by Bobby Soto

Beto (Age 7) played by Leonardo Granados

Salvador played by Julio César Cedillo

Julia played by Veronica Falcón

Kalpana Chawla played by Sarayu Blue

Clint Logan played by Eric Johnson

Miss Young played by Michelle Krusiec 

José (Age 7) played by Juanpi Monterrubio (Juan Pablo Monterrubio)

Marisa played by Ashley Ciara

Weissberg played by Jordan Dean

Stacey played by Emma Fassler

Julio (Age 5) played by Alex Briseño

Julio (Age 11) played by Carlos Santiago Sánchez

Teenage Julio (Age 16) played by Isaac Arellanes

Chava (Age 13) played by Emy Zuriel

Lety (Age 9) played by Xochiquetzal Martínez

Lety Adult played by Marilyn Uribe

Gil (Age 11) played by Jorge Briseño

Adela’s Mom played by Mercedes Hernandez

Adela’s Father played by Gerardo Trejoluna

Frequently Asked Questions: A Million Miles Away Christian Movie Review

Where can I watch A Million Miles Away?

Currently, A Million Miles Away is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film opened in limited theaters on September 8, 2023, and then began streaming on September 15, 2023.

Is A Million Miles Away a true story?

A Million Miles Away is based on the true story of Jose Hernandez and his journey to becoming an engineer and astronaut. This movie pays tribute to the Mexican-American family. His family had some children born in Mexico, and some born in America. It features the American dream of Jose’s father (Julio Cesar Cedillo) coming here and sacrificing to create a better life for his children and his children’s children.

How many times was Jose Hernandez rejected by NASA?

Hernández received his first rejection letter in 1992. He was rejected for astronaut training eleven times. However, he was selected for the NASA training on his twelfth attempt.

Did Jose Hernandez fly any space missions?

Yes. In 2009, he was on the crew of the NASA Space Shuttle Mission STS-128 which was a mission to the International Space Station. The Space Shuttle Discovery launched on August 29, 2009 and carried the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo payload. After staying on the ISS for 13 days, they returned to earth on September 12, 2009.

Who was on the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-128?

The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-128 included: Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Kevin Ford, and mission specialists Jose Hernandez, John “Danny” Olivias, Nicole Stott, European Space Agency’s Christer Fuglesang, and Patrick Forrester.

Which Space Shuttle mission is destroyed in the movie?

The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated as it entered the atmosphere on Saturday, February 1, 2003. All seven astronauts were killed.

How many Space Shuttle missions failed?

Two. The Space Shuttle Challenger STS-51-L broke apart 73 seconds into its flight on January 28, 1986, killing all seven astronauts. Additionally, the Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 killed seven astronauts upon re-entry in 2003.

Will A Million Miles Away stream on Disney+? 

No. As A Million Miles Away is an Amazon Original, it will not be streaming on Disney+.

Will A Million Miles Away stream on Peacock?

No. A Million Miles Away is an Amazon Original Movie and will not be streaming on Peacock.

Who dies in A Million Miles Away?

Jose’s cousin Beto is killed in a shoot-out and it is said he was “at the wrong place, at the wrong time.”

How accurate is A Million Miles Away?

This unlikely journey of a migrant worker who goes onto become a NASA astronaut is true to the actual story. It is based on the 2012 autobiography by José Hernández, Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut. This inspirational story details his life as the first migrant farmworker to become a NASA astronaut.

What college did Jose get his engineering degree?

In 1984, Jose received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Pacific. He then earned his master’s degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

What were the ingredients in the Recipe for Success that Jose’s father gave him?

Ingredient No. 1: Know what you want.

Ingredient No. 2: Look where you are standing; How far you still need to go.

You have to think how you are going to get there is Ingredient No. 3

Ingredient No. 4: If you don’t know how you have to learn.

Ingredient No. 5: When you think you’ve made it, you’ll probably have to try even harder.

How does Jose interpret those ingredients in the recipe for success?

Jose relists the ingredients in a slightly different manner. Ingredient No. 1: Find your goal

Next, Ingredient No. 2: Know how far you are

Ingredient No. 3: Draw a roadmap

Ingredient No. 4: If you don’t know how, learn.

Finally, Ingredient No. 5: When you think you’ve made it, you’ll probably have to work harder.