October Sky
October Sky
‘October Sky’ is an anagram of the book ‘Rocket Boys’ by Homer Hickam. This biographical drama revolves around Homer Hickam, a coal miner’s son, who is inspired by the launch of Sputnik 1 (the first manmade satellite to orbit the Earth) to take up rocketry and become a NASA engineer.The movie begins with the people of Coalwood hearing about Sputnik’s launch. On the night of the launch, the people of the town gather to see the satellite orbiting across the sky. Homer Hickam (played by Jake Gyllenhaal), the fourteen-year-old son of John Hickam, is filled with awe at the sight of a satellite and sets out to build his own. His family and friends oppose his idea to build a rocket. His father tells him that he would be better off at the mines rather than wasting his time building stuff.
Homer eventually learns more about rockets after numerous failed attempts. His science teacher, Miss Riley (played by Laura Dern) gives him a rocket science book and soon, he gets an opportunity to take part in the National Science Fair. How Homer manages to overcome
turbulences in his life and make it big as a NASA engineer forms the rest of the story.
turbulences in his life and make it big as a NASA engineer forms the rest of the story.
October Sky is a heart-warming story with a beautiful message - like how a rocket needs to be lit for it to take off, every student needs an encouraging teacher to motivate him/her to pursue his/her dreams.
