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Review

In 1962, President Kennedy posed a challenge to the American people — could we, by the end of the decade, go to the moon? What once seemed nearly impossible in fact turned out to be one of the United States’ greatest accomplishments of the twentieth century. Spurred on by a national spirit of competition to beat our Cold War nemesis, this mission was accomplished. On July 21, 1969, millions of people from around the globe tuned in to watch Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin take their first steps on the surface of the moon. Here was a rare moment in time when the world was united in a feeling of joy and optimism. The astronauts who had the privilege to go to the moon are now graying space cowboys. Their explanation of what really went on in the space race only adds to their mythic stature. In addition to being brave and phenomenal physical specimens, these men were also brilliant. The gamut of technical skills they possessed is simply astounding. Remember, the computers used on the moon missions had only a fraction of the computational power of today’s home computer. Director David Sington was given access to a treasure trove of unseen NASA film clips and other curiosities of the era. It’s easy to see why In the Shadow of the Moon was the Sundance Audience Award-winner; it’s the ultimate out-of-this-world experience.

 -- Jennifer Steinberg