The name Sally Ride is synonymous with space exploration, but National Geographic’s documentary Sally peels back the layers of her historic legacy, revealing the intensely private woman behind the headlines. Directed by Cristina Costantini, the film masterfully balances Ride’s professional achievements with the personal sacrifices she made to safeguard her most intimate truth. Sally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival ahead of its upcoming wider release.
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The documentary opens with the familiar image of Ride’s groundbreaking 1983 launch, marking her place in history as the first American woman in space. Yet, through archival footage and candid interviews, Sally explores how the role of trailblazer came with immense pressure. Ride was not just an astronaut—she was a symbol, a role model, and an unwitting pioneer in both STEM and LGBTQ+ history. The film highlights this through moments like her Sesame Street appearance, where she inspired a generation of young girls to reach for the stars, despite the obstacles she faced herself.
What sets Sally apart is its deeply personal narrative, primarily told through the eyes of Ride’s life partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy. Their love story is quietly revolutionary, stretching across 27 years but hidden from public view due to the homophobic culture of the time. The film artfully recreates key moments, such as their first meeting at a middle school tennis tournament and their eventual reunion in their twenties. Reenactments with a nostalgic film-grain aesthetic and rounded-corner archival footage lend a warm, almost tactile quality to these memories.
As Sally delves into Ride’s career at NASA, it doesn’t shy away from the blatant sexism she faced. The 1976 decision to finally allow women and Black astronauts into the space program set the stage for her entry, but blending in became a survival tactic. Ride and her fellow female recruits had to reject the label of “female astronaut,” enduring absurdities like being offered a NASA-issued makeup kit and an ill-informed suggestion of 100 tampons for a short mission. Archival interviews show Ride handling these moments with wry humor, but the documentary makes it clear: the struggle for acceptance was real.
The film also touches on the darker periods of Ride’s career, including the Challenger disaster that deeply affected her and led to her eventual resignation from NASA. Her post-spaceflight years were devoted to science education, culminating in the 2001 founding of Sally Ride Science alongside O’Shaughnessy. Yet, even in this empowering endeavor, the weight of secrecy lingered—Tam speaks candidly about the difficulty of staying closeted for so many years.
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Ride’s story takes a heartbreaking turn in 2011 with her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, a battle she fought privately. Only after her passing did the world learn about her relationship with O’Shaughnessy, a revelation that reshaped her legacy. The documentary captures this poignantly through a condolence letter from fellow astronaut Mike Mullane, a once-chauvinistic colleague whose words reflect a profound evolution of perspective.
The film’s interview lineup is a testament to Ride’s impact—family, colleagues, and even Billie Jean King weigh in on her legacy. Her mother, Joyce Ride, and sister, Bear Ride, provide touching insights, while former astronaut Steve Hawley, Ride’s ex-husband, offers a rare glimpse into their past.
Ultimately, Sally is both a tribute and a revelation. It honors Ride’s pioneering spirit while shedding light on the personal cost of breaking barriers. In a world that still struggles with inclusivity in STEM and LGBTQ+ representation, her story resonates now more than ever. By weaving together the triumphs and trials of Sally Ride’s life, this documentary ensures that her legacy extends far beyond the stars.
I give Sally 5 out of 5 stars.