NEW ULM — The New Ulm Film Society’s NASA film series takes a step onto the moon with a screening of “First Man.”

The film starts at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the New Ulm Public Library.

This is the fourth film in the film society’s series on NASA. Each film in the series chronicles the American space program.

“First Man” covers the story of Neil Armstrong (played by Ryan Gosling) as he trains with fellow Apollo astronauts and is eventually chosen to be the first man to walk on the moon.

The film was released in 2018, making it one of the newest films detailing historical events in the U.S. space program. One of the most surprising aspects of the film is how long it took to tell Armstrong’s story.

The U.S. successfully landing a man on the moon is the pinnacle achievement of the space program and arguably one of the greatest endeavors in the history of human civilization.

Armstrong himself is one of the most famous human beings to have ever lived, but no one tried to make a major film about his life until 2018.

Every American knows of Armstrong’s accomplishments and has likely seen video footage of him walking on the moon, but his personal life was something of a mystery.

“First Man” is ultimately a story about the first man who walked on the moon, but it is also an exploration of a person overcoming tragedy and restoring faith.

The film begins Armstrong’s story at one worst moment in his life–the death of his 2-year-old daughter Karen from a brain tumor.

In the film, Armstrong is desperate to save his daughter, using a scientific approach to monitor her symptoms and researching new treatments. Unfortunately, Armstrong was unable to save her, and in his grief, doubt sets in about the limits of science.

As he and his fellow astronauts train for the Apollo mission, Armstrong’s faith in science continues to be shaken. Further setbacks and tragedy make the moon mission seem impossible.

Taking the first steps on the moon was a success for humankind and proof to Armstrong his trust in science was not misplaced.

“First Man” does not try to frame Armstrong as a flawless man who was larger than life. Gosling plays Armstrong as a man who keeps his emotions below the surface, even under the most extreme circumstances.

This makes sense from a historical perspective. If Armstrong was the type of person to break down emotionally, he would never have been chosen for the Apollo project.

Gosling’s performance is subtle, but the visual look of the film is anything but subdued. The movie’s commitment to detailing the 1960s era is impressive, but the film is best for its depiction of the moon scene.

The moment Armstrong opens the capsule and walks on the moon for the first time is visually stunning. “First Man” won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for this achievement.

The moon scenes were filmed with a different kind of camera to give greater detail, and the effect is stunning. The scene is a powerful moment, even for those who remember the real event in July 1969.

The New Ulm Film Society will host the screening in the library’s basement. Society members will provide additional information on the movie before and after the screening.