A MILLION MILES AWAY Inspiration Declares ‘No Conflict’ Between Science, Religion
By Movieguide® Contributor
Jose Hernández, the inspiration for Amazon’s recent hit A MILLION MILES AWAY, shared how his family and faith helped him rise from an immigrant worker to a NASA astronaut.
His dream to be an astronaut began with Apollo 17, the last manned mission to the moon.
“I was 10 at the time, and I saw the last astronaut to walk on the moon. I was watching [the TV] and then would go outside and look at the moon, and then go back inside to listen to Walter Cronkite’s explanations,” he told AARP. “That was the moment that fueled my determination, and I said: ‘This is it. I want to be an astronaut.’”
Growing up in a migrant worker family, Hernández often traveled between Mexico and America as the farming cycle demanded. He jumped from one school to another and didn’t even learn to speak English until he turned 12.
However, Hernández remained focused on his vision to join NASA, and with the support of God and his family, he became an engineer and nuclear scientist.
“When I’ve needed help, someone has always been there to lend me a hand. God was taking care of me through my parents,” he said. “So I like this film because it’s not someone saying, ‘Hey look at me; look at how well I’ve done.’”
“It was my family’s effort, my wife’s contribution—everything,” Hernández told USA Today.
A MILLION MILES AWAY not only captures the support Hernández received from his family but also highlights his faith. Movieguide®’s review notes that the movie includes a very strong Christian, moral and pro-family worldview that incorporates positive Catholic imagery.
This portrayal is especially rare for a science-focused movie, as many believe science and religion are incompatible.
“When I’m asked how a scientist can be Catholic and religious, I reply that there is no conflict for me. Science tells you how things work, the laws of physics. Religion tells you why things happen,” Hernández explained.
Hernández’s scientific endeavors have actually brought him closer to God as he sees the fingerprints of God in the order and beauty of nature.
“[While in space] I had two windows: one with a gorgeous view of our planet, and another one to the universe,” he recalled. “I looked at the universe, and it looked so perfectly laid out that I thought, ‘This can’t be a coincidence.’ So there is in fact a force that we aren’t familiar with, and that’s religion. That’s God.”
A MILLION MILES AWAY is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
Part of Movieguide®’s review reads:
A MILLION MILES AWAY is an incredibly inspirational, wholesome movie for all ages. It takes a down-to-earth approach to this story of celestial ambition. Jose is a truly relatable character who will inspire viewers to realize their dreams can be achieved through hard work. A MILLION MILES AWAY has a great message for children and teenagers. The fact that the movie is filled with Christian faith and has a complete absence of offensive language makes it terrific viewing for families.
Movieguide® previously reported:
“I am one of less than 600 people who had the privilege of seeing our Earth from the outside. That’s an exclusive club,” he said. “To see Earth from the distance, Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, Central America, you realize, ‘Wow, we’re just one race, the human race. And we’re all God’s children.’”
In A MILLION MILES AWAY, Hernández is mistaken for a janitor after NASA hires him. He told The Wrap that it’s true, but he faced the discrimination nobly.
“You can’t get mad at people. You just educate them.” Hernández said. “It’s something my mother taught me when I first complained of being discriminated against, and that was when I took tacos to school and kids made fun of me. My mom said, ‘Kill them with love.’ And I didn’t understand what she meant. I said, ‘Explain that to me.’ And she said, ‘Show him who you are in here [points to his heart].’”
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