“Sally”

Director Cristina Costantini brings forward an interesting dual narrative in “SALLY,” a documentary about the first American woman in space, Sally Ride. The film dives into two major parts of Ride’s life: her storied career as an astronaut and the secret romance she had with her partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy. While both parts are interesting, the film struggles to balance them effectively and ends up feeling unfocused, overstuffed with information, and all over the place.

The best parts of the film are the behind-the-scenes NASA training footage and the old news clips from Ride’s missions. It’s interesting and surprising to see how much scrutiny she faced, not just as a pioneering astronaut but also as a woman. The way the media treated Ride, by constantly questioning her personal life and pushing her to be a flawless public figure, was outrageously intense. The moments that show her composure under pressure really stand out, and there is more than enough material for a separate documentary on that topic alone.

Despite the media scrutiny and overt sexism that Ride faced throughout her career, her composure and professionalism are inspiring (especially as she successfully remained a closeted lesbian for decades). While its understandable why Costantini would want to delve into the cost of this public persona and secret life, it feels like two movies in one with material that would’ve been better served individually rather than crowded into one documentary.

The film often veers off track, incorporating interviews and anecdotes that feel out of place or disconnected from the narrative thread. While Costantini attempts to build a complete picture of Ride’s life, some of these moments add little to nothing to the story while becoming a burden on the film’s pacing.

While I wish the documentary was a bit tighter with its storytelling, “SALLY” presents a layered portrait of a trailblazer who defied the odds and reshaped the space program. It’s a reminder of Ride’s lasting impact as both an astronaut and a role model for women everywhere.

By: Louisa Moore