Throughout the film, Hidden Figures, director Theodore Melfi effectively uses a wide range of characters and appeals to portray the racism and the shift in authority that Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary experienced while working at NASA. Each of these characters is given individual development and their relationships are strengthened, allowing them to grow and assert themselves. The lighting, depth, camera angles, and costuming in the movie all play a role in shaping the journey of these three main characters. The pivotal scenes where they make the decision to stand up for themselves occur later in the film during their time at NASA.
The film Hidden Figures employs mise-en-scene techniques, including camera angles and shot types, to depict the shift of authority within the plot involving Katherine. One pivotal moment calls attention to this shift as Katherine asserts herself against Al Harrison in the bathroom scene. In this scene, Katherine assumes a position of power and authority, contrary to the usual dominance exhibited by Al Harrison throughout the film. Katherine’s facial expression displays anger and stress due to Harrison’s questioning of her frequent bathroom breaks, while the other characters in the department, especially Al Harrison, convey their emotions non-verbally. It is revealed that Katherine undertakes a lengthy journey across campus for each bathroom break, depicted through a long shot. This apparent inconvenience stems from the absence of African American restrooms in the mathematics department. The frustration encountered in this particular scene drives Katherine to direct her anger towards Al Harrison and the entire math department.
The general tone of the scene is demanding as Katherine’s piercing eyes scan and look at Al Harrison. The significance of this shot reveals that she is not looking at him for an answer, but rather for his understanding of how difficult it is for her to work at NASA because of her skin color. After church, Katherine meets soldier Jim Johnson at the church’s barbecue party. However, she is disappointed when he expresses skepticism about women’s mathematical abilities at NASA. He tries to apologize, but Katherine quickly reacts and responds to Jim Johnson’s comment about her NASA career. Her facial expression is full of anger, viewed through a close-up shot and a high angle. The mise-en-scene technique in this situation helps convey that she is in control of the situation and emphasizes the importance of her advocating for women’s equality. The character development and shift in authority of Katherine towards Jim Johnson, a soldier, and Al Harrison, the team leader of NASA, are examined through mise-en-scene techniques such as camera angles and shot types.
Throughout the film Hidden Figures, Dorothy faces discrimination and obstacles from Mrs. Mitchell in her pursuit of a supervisor position at NASA. Despite demonstrating her capabilities as a NASA supervisor, Dorothy’s authority is undermined by Mrs. Mitchell. Dorothy discovers the potential of an IBM computer to replace human-computer jobs and takes it upon herself to learn how to program it. She then decides to assign NASA employees, particularly those in the western area of the building, to work on the machine. However, despite her success in operating the IBM machine, Mrs. Mitchell continues to deny Dorothy the supervisor position.
When Mrs. Mitchell informed Dorothy that she could not be a supervisor, Dorothy’s position is depicted from a high angle, aligning her eyes with Mrs. Mitchell’s. In a composed manner, Dorothy asserts her capability for the NASA job position. Eventually, Mrs. Mitchell acknowledges Dorothy as Mrs. Vaughan, indicating a newfound respect and the initiation of a different working relationship at NASA. The mise-en-scene showcases the evolution of Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary as characters in the historic film, as they navigate various challenging circumstances. Throughout the film, the audience witnesses the transformation of leadership and bravery in Mary, Katherine, and Dorothy during their time at NASA. The character development for all three individuals is thoroughly explored through the application of mise-en-scene elements such as camera angles, costumes, and shot types.
