FRAMELINE 49: SALLY

Known for being the first American woman to fly in space, astronaut and physicist Sally Ride is one of NASA’s most prominent figures. Even though she logged nearly 350 hours in space, little was known about Ride’s personal life — until now. Currently celebrated as the world’s first-known LGBTQ+ astronaut, Ride had a long-term partnership with Billie Jean King’s mentee-turned-science-writer and professor Tam O’Shaughnessy, which they kept private until Ride’s passing in 2012.

For this Sundance Award-winning documentary, diretor Cristina Costantini (Mucho Mucho Amor) uses a seamless blend of archival footage and intimate interviews to paint an honest and affecting portrait of Ride. Preserved in books, our collective pop-cultural memory, and even a Janelle Monáe song, Ride’s legacy looms large. However, by juxtaposing its titular subject’s storied career with her struggles with fame, privacy, and queerness, this film understands that even history’s most enduring heroes are just like us.