Hannah Berryman's documentary Space Woman chronicles the life and career of astronaut Eileen Collins, the main girl who drove and directed spacecraft. Collins broke many glass ceilings throughout his 90s when he worked at NASA, which eventually reached a shuttle mission in 4 dramatic and harmful areas. Through archival supplies and intimate interviews, Beriman’s Doc celebrates Collins’ groundbreaking work in the region while also considering the emotional drama of Collins’s family proficiency in her pioneering career.
The movie has a very good timing, given that in February, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered NASA to clear the diversity, equity and inclusion framework, especially focusing on managing the ladies. In 2023, NASA announced that it could “land the first individual coloring girl and use revolutionary applied science on the moon to explore people who discovered the moon’s floor earlier than ever before.” However, since Trump’s February mission, the language is far from NASA’s website.
Berryman has produced numerous documentaries about influential ladies with Princess Margaret (“Princess Margaret: The Royal Family of the Rebellion”) and Coco Chanel (“Coco Chanel: Coco Chanel: No Deception”).
The director talked to Selection about “Woman in Space,” who made his debut on CPH:DOX earlier this week.
“Space Woman” is a guide to “through glass ceilings to stars” in the 2021 guide. Have you learned the guide and immediately know that you just want to make a document or is there anyone suggesting you make a document about the guide?
Berryman: Producer Keith Haviland has always been concerned about making major regional films and thinks Eileen's story is particularly curious. After choosing her guide, he came here with colleague Natasha Dack, who knows my work and see what I used to be curious about making movies about Eileen. I study the guide and immediately hope to make a documentary. Eileen does not come from a privileged background, but has key points to deal with it. She turned a pilot and the main girl drove the area shuttle by pure willpower. And all of this is a high-level emotional journey for her family. It was this fascinating story and truth that she rewrites a pioneer in a new world that made me want to make movies.
Why does it make sense to tell Eileen Collins’ story now?
There are a lot of movies about male astronauts, I used to be shocked that there is no movie about the first pilot there and then order the pilot. Pilots are testosterone-oriented areas of the “high gun” world of the 19th and 1980s. At present, a girl breaks into this world is actually extraordinary. Since NASA is now planning to transport a crew member to the moon again, this time the ladies, watch the story of the girl again, dragging one of the feet, longing for different ladies to observe.
You have made many films introducing ladies. What is your most attractive topic in nature?
Actually, I only make movies that I can join in myself, and I think being a girl is easier for my expertise. And the ability to see the ladies doing something completely new to me, discovering to be the girls in their own world, and trying to dig into each of their stories, which is great. With Eileen, I used to be curious about the way her troubled background helped her to some extent overcome her extra annoyance, one of the talents she needed. This is crucial to doing what she does, pioneering in the harmful world of aviation, especially when piloting the regional shuttle here. But, to a non-public extent, conquering this concern and having the ability to divide emotions, one thing that has not been historically seen as doing a lot of things that have had an impact on her family life and motherhood when she flipped over here. So, to some extent, the film turns worries, emotions and family life and all the ways that might work into meditation.
The main and second half of the “Space Woman” is structured in different ways. Can you discuss the way you are determined to make a movie and what is behind that call?
I love starting a tech-based movie and giving you something you least want to imagine. When you start the movie on Eileen, you already know that this is probably the first movie about girls. The person who built Eileen was that her background was unlikely, and the challenges the ladies faced again at that time, was essential because of the beginning of the film. It then turned into a corner, becoming a commander of several commanders controlling experiments and dangerous missions, which was NASA's flight after the entire crew misplaced the position within the Colombian accident. She's a girl just part of the story – that's how it should be. Her background and family scenes continue to weave in the current, hoping to give an emotional weight to the whole story – so that you will only learn about an incredible girl and come up with ideas about the nature of normal human risk adventures, especially in the region.
National geographical “Sally” introduces Sally Trip, the main American girl who exploded into the region. Is this involving you by discovering how this document is distributed?
We are optimistic. Sally Trip has had a unique story since she wasn't a pilot, but relatively a scientist, she went to the area with that ability and was the main girl trying it out. In addition, we need “Salley” to achieve amazing success. Anyway, there are a lot of movies about male astronauts, definitely space for multiple movies about ladies.
“Space Woman” is a Haviland digital manufacturing industry affiliated with Tigerlily Movies.
