Paving the Way a Million Miles at a Time
By: Isabel De Los Santos
"Ingredient no. 1: find your goal. Ingredient no.2: know how far you are. Ingredient no. 3: draw a road map. Ingredient no. 4: if you don't know how, learn. Ingredient no. 5: when you think you've made it, you probably have to work harder"- Salvador Hernandez, A Million Miles Away (2023)
In the film, A Million Miles Away (2023), director Alejandra Marquez Abella, from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, tells the story of Jose M Hernandez and how his goal of becoming an astronaut became his reality through hard work and tremendous sacrifices. In telling the story, she uses techniques that are not commonly seen in films such as the warping of some scenes to express defeat, but not surrender, and the use of different camera quality for memorable scenes and the passing of time, such as the scene where Jose and Adela, his partner, are married and later start their family—one of my favorite scenes!
The film explores themes of resilience, determination, community, and Mexican/Mexican-American culture. Jose, like many Mexican-Americans including myself, was born to immigrant parents who came to the United States in hopes of achieving the "American Dream", or at least having a taste of it by earning higher wages compared to in Mexico. The film A Million Miles Away begins with the farewell of Salvador and Julia, Jose's parents, and their children as they leave Mexico to work on Californian farms in hopes of saving enough money to build a house in their hometown in Michoacan, Mexico. Once in the US, Jose has to help his parents work the farms early in the morning then head to school, where he excels in math.
A very important character in Jose's story is his elementary teacher, Ms. Young, who believes in him and in his goal. Because of her, Salvador was convinced to stay in one place instead picking up his family and moving every few months with the harvest, "How can a tree grow fruit when it is being uprooted and replanted every three months?" she asked.
The film fast forwards to Jose finding love, graduating college, and finally resumes when he has his first job as a lab engineer for a federal research facility. Here, he is a minority, and seen as unqualified at the beginning. For example, the secretary assumes Jose to be the new janitor despite him wearing dress clothes like all the other engineers at the facility. Although he is discouraged, he does not give up; in fact he works harder to get what he wants to achieve.
Marquez Abella, expresses storytelling through film in a way that honored Jose's story. She uses iconic Norteña music, and other iconic Mexican/Mexican-American songs that fit the corresponding scene perfectly. There is also a specific scene near the end where Jose is close to accomplishing his goal and has flashbacks to conversations with his loved ones where they are encouraging and motivating him, but this time said characters break the fourth wall and are speaking to the audience. This was clever and moving, it inspires the audience and builds a closer connection with the characters.
The use of “chapters” throughout the film which follow Salvador’s receta, or recipe, keep the viewer engaged and wanting to take notes–at least it did when I watched it the first, second, and third time. Overall, the movie evokes emotion and awe, furthermore it evoked a personal connection because I share similar experiences with sacrifices, food, music, being Mexican-American, and having closely related goals.
“Who better to leave this planet and dive into the unknown than a migrant farmworker?” - Beto, A Million Miles Away (2023)
Sources:
In this biopic, a boy from a family of migrant farm workers watches the moon landing in 1969, which ignites his desire to be an astronaut.
Film Soundtrack:
