Sally

But if Sally doesn’t quite reach the heights of its subject, it is fittingly unshowy. This is a quietly admiring tribute to a woman who lamented the fact that her historic achievement was still “such a big deal” in 1983.

While Ride and O’ Shaughnessy never wed, [her] candor here marries a spectacular professional saga with the personal love story convincingly.

An inspiring tale of a woman breaking one of the tallest glass ceilings for her field but feels immensely tragic.

The documentary includes eye-opening interviews with family members and former astronauts and archival video of Ride herself, to create an engaging, socially relevant portrait of an American heroine and of the culture.

When the focus remains on its subject, "Sally" is consistently compelling.

Who was Sally? Who did she think she was? Who did she want us to see? “Sally” doesn’t quite answer those questions, but it certainly reaches for the stars in an earnest attempt to find them.

Despite the singularity of its subject, Sally, Cristina Costantini’s documentary about trailblazing queer astronaut Sally K. Ride, is a very rote, by the-books bio-doc, although it is made with a lot of heart.

Cristina Costantini’s Sally is part character study, part tribute, part love story. Sally Ride was fearless in the face of heading into the unknown, but when it came to dealing with the things she knew to be true about herself, she struggled.

The documentary often veers off track, incorporating interviews and anecdotes that feel out of place. While Costantini attempts to build a complete picture of Ride’s life, these moments add little to the story while becoming a burden on the film’s pacing.

“Sally” is a long overdue and emotionally sensitive look at an astronaut wanting to live a private life without fame and intrusion.