The Aeronauts
Originally published on social media on August 15th, 2023
Anyone who has ever checked their weather app should watch this film. Here's why:
This film is about the scientists and aeronauts who dedicated their lives to researching weather patterns, making weather predictions, and making other observations about the skies above. Almanacs were not always the most reliable, and storms could pass through without any warning. As a result, the weather literally ended lives both by direct impact and or the destruction of shelter or food supply. Next time you open the weather app, thank the aeronauts who made significant progress towards weather prediction in order to preserve your today and make it more convenient.
The flights taken by aeronauts and scientists were incredibly dangerous, just as this film displays and involved real people. James Glaisher (depicted by Eddie Redmayne) was a real scientist who went on these explorations. Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) was based on real women aeronauts and their experiences. Time magazine noted that Amelia Wren was likely based on two specific aeronauts: Margaret Graham and Sophie Blanchard. The Smithsonian claimed that Glaisher's flight was with Aeronaut Henry Coxwell (not a woman), but I am more convinced of Times stance that this film is based on multiple explorations (not one specific one). As a historian, I've observed how much disagreement and controversy exists amongst historians. Anyone who chooses to learn history must use this to differentiate information and form well rounded understandings of history based on interpretation and analysis.
Here’s a good Smithsonian quote: "Aeronauts and passengers fell to their deaths when [gas] balloons unexpectedly deflated, caught fire or drifted out to sea. Partly due to this inherent danger, untethered balloon flight became forms of public entertainment, titillating crowds who wanted to see if something would go wrong. The novelist Charles Dickens, horrified by balloon ascents, wrote that these 'dangerous exhibitions' were no different from public hangings." Humanity never changes.
I invite you to watch this film, not only because the acting and all other elements are superb.
Articles about the historical elements of these films:
https://time.com/5746565/the-aeronauts-movie-true-story/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/.../their-balloons.../....)