‘Sally' explains why a trailblazing astronaut chose to stay in the closet
That was the case for filmmaker Cristina Costantini. Her documentary 'Sally,' which premiered at Sundance, is an ode to her childhood hero. It will be broadcast Monday at 9 p.m. on National Geographic before streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
'I have been a fan of Sally since I was a little kid,' the filmmaker says on a teleconference call alongside Ride's longtime partner, Tam O'Shaughnessy. 'I painted a mural of her that still exists on my elementary school wall. I did a book report about her. The equation was simple: Seeing a woman doing big, brave things that women weren't supposed to be doing made me think that maybe I could do big things, too.'
But 'Sally' isn't just a portrait of how a young Dodgers fan from Encino with wild ambitions made her way to NASA and became, as Costantini jokingly puts it, 'the very first Valley girl in space.' Instead, the documentary threads that well-known tale with a private one about how Ride kept her nearly three-decade relationship with O'Shaughnessy a secret until her death from cancer in 2012, when Ride's obituary made it public.
Now, 'Sally' puts their love story front and center. Dramatizations, love letters, photographs and home videos paint a portrait of a happy couple who squirreled a life for themselves away from the public eye. Ride's sexuality is not treated merely as a footnote to her story, and the documentary asks viewers to understand why the astronaut opted to cordon off a part of her life and live inside a closet of her own making.
'I was worried that the film might be too hard on Sally,' O'Shaughnessy admits.
'Why couldn't she come out and'oh, poor Tam' and all that, you know?' she asks rhetorically. 'But that's not how it comes across. The fact of the matter is when Sally and I got together in the mid-'80s, it was a little dangerous to be open. You could miss out on lots of opportunities with your career, with projects you wanted to be involved in.'
And like then, it feels dicey again today to be out, she says. 'But I think it's really good for young viewers of the film to see that there were good reasons for Sally and I to not be open to the public.'
For context, 'Sally' offers two other contemporary coming-out narratives: those of Billie Jean King, whom Ride and O'Shaughnessy met during their tennis-playing years, and Karen 'Bear' Ride, Sally's sister. The former lost endorsements after her secretary outed her just as her tennis career was flourishing; the other was a trailblazing lesbian Presbyterian minister who advocated for the LGBTQ+ community. The experiences of King and Ride's sister, the doc suggests, influenced how and why the astronaut chose to marry a man while working at NASA — Steven Hawley, who appears in the film — and later decided to live a quiet, private life with O'Shaughnessy.
Over the course of her career, Ride encountered sexism and misogyny from her peers and the press alike ('In your training, when there was a problem, how did you respond? Did you weep?' she was asked at a press conference). As a result, viewers might begin to understand why the famed astronaut chose to avoid further scrutiny, and likely homophobia, because of her public-facing role as NASA's poster girl.
While the documentary neither castigates Ride for her choices nor absolves her of the thorny calculations she'd made to build the life she wanted for herself, 'Sally' is a poignant reminder that it's not always easy to parse questions about visibility and representation.
So in her absence, O'Shaughnessy tries to set the record straight. Costantini's emphasis on their relationship in 'Sally' aims to show how it was integral to Ride's storied legacy.
'I think the kind of bravery that Sally had was the kind of bravery that as a kid you understand,' Costantini explains. 'Going up on basically a bomb into space — that's pretty scary in the moment and scary in a physical way. So as a kid, you have a fascination and appreciation for it.
'But Tam's kind of bravery — the ability to say who you are, even if you are hated for it, to have the moral courage to be who you were born to be, to tell the truth — I think that, as an adult, is a much harder thing to do,' she adds.
As a portrait of a trailblazer, Costantini's film shows us that heroes are fallible. Learning about their humanity and the ways they wrestled with making their way in this world can be as eye-opening as it is enriching to their legacy.
'The project of the film is to place you in the history books alongside your amazing life partner,' Costantini tells O'Shaughnessy, fighting back tears. 'There's something about seeing you celebrated for the beautiful love story that you two had together, in public, that always gets me.'
'Even though Sally wasn't verbally out and definitely not out publicly, she still lived her life exactly the way she wanted to live it,' O'Shaughnessy says. 'She did the things she wanted to do. She loved the people she wanted to love. She was true to herself.'
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Hulk Hogan descended upon American culture at exactly the time it was ready for him: the 1980s
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Hulk Hogan descended upon American culture at exactly the time it was ready for him: the 1980s
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Hogan did it all, hosting 'Saturday Night Live,' making movies, granting Make-A-Wish visits, even as he often strayed far from the advice that made him a 6-foot-8, 300-plus pound cash cow and one of the world's most recognizable entertainers. His muscles looked like basketballs, his promos electrified audiences — why was he yelling!?! — and he fabricated and embellished stories from his personal life all as he morphed into the personification of the 80s and 80s culture and excess. In the not-so-real world of professional wrestling, Hulk Hogan banked on fans believing in his authenticity. That belief made him the biggest star the genre has ever known. Outside the ring, the man born Terry Gene Bollea wrestled with his own good guy/bad guy dynamic, a messy life that eventually bled beyond the curtain, spilled into tabloid fodder and polluted the final years of his life. Hogan — who teamed with actor Mr. T in the first WrestleMania — was branded a racist. He was embroiled in a sex-tape scandal. He claimed he once contemplated suicide. All this came well after he admitted he burst into wrestling stardom not on a strict diet of workouts and vitamins, but of performance-enhancing drugs, notably steroids. The punches, the training, the grueling around-the-world travel were all real (the outcomes, of course, were not). So was the pain that followed Hogan as he was temporarily banished from WWE in his later years. He was the flawed hero of a flawed sport, and eventually not even wrestling fans, like a bad referee, could turn a blind eye to Hogan's discretions. His last appearance fizzled Hogan's final WWE appearance came this past January at the company's debut episode on Netflix. Hogan arrived months after he appeared at the Republican National Convention and gave a rousing speech -- not unlike his best 1980s promos -- in support of Donald Trump. 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The D.C. Restaurant Openings to Know This July
This is Eater's guide to all the new restaurants, bars, and cafes that have opened this month. If there's an opening in your neighborhood that we've missed, let us know at dc@ July 29 Downtown: Barbouzard – which means 'secret agent' in French – brings a lauded chef's longstanding recipes, bespoke music, and late-night aspirations to the busy corner of 17th and K Street NW on Tuesday, July 29. French American chef and partner Cedric Maupillier showcases his South of France education and upbringing across Barbouzard's plates, highlighting the elegance of the Riviera and the rest of the vast Mediterranean coast. The menu features grilled fish and seafood, plenty of vegetable dishes, seafood towers, and caviar (martinis), along with a short list of meats, steak-frites, and pasta. The 6,493-square-foot restaurant also houses a central DJ booth and stage for live piano, sax, guitar, and violin performances. Weekend hours extend until 1 a.m. 1700 K Street NW July 25 Gordon Ramsay's new Backyard burger. Gordon Ramsay Street Burger Penn Quarter: Celebrity chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay's burger chain lands stateside for the first time on Friday, July 25, on the lower level of his Street Pizza location on 7th Street. Street Burger's debut location in D.C. puts a twist on patties, serving 'American-style' smash burgers that you won't currently find at any of the nine U.K. locations. The five-ounce double smash patties comes in many forms, from the familiar In-N-Out style burger, called 'Next Level,' with caramelized onions, pickles, and a spicy aioli to a Hell's Kitchen-inspired burger with spicy tomato chutney, crispy onions, and jalapeños. There are also fried chicken sandwiches, vegan burgers made with harissa-spiced vegetables, buckets of chicken wings, $5 draft beers, and loaded fries on the new menu. 507 7th Street NW July 24 Rosslyn: Next-gen food hall Wonder opened its first Virginia location on Thursday, July 24, serving up dishes from iconic restaurants around the nation, like Brooklyn's Di Fara Pizza, Tejas Barbecue from Texas, and Marcus Samuelsson's Streetbird. Wonder recruits superstar chefs to lend their names and recipes, as well as co-develop exclusive concepts just for them, such as Greek-inspired Chios Taverna from celebrity chef Michael Symon in Rosslyn. The kitchen churns out dishes from 20 eateries in all, allowing diners to try an array of cuisines in the small dining area or delivered straight to their front door by Wonder drivers. The food hall touts a door-to-door delivery time of 30 minutes or less. 1771 N. Pierce St., Unit 100, Rosslyn, Virginia July 20 Georgetown: Yala Greek Ice Cream's founder Chrys Kefalas brought D.C. a unique taste of Rhodes — the Greek isle where his family is from — on Sunday, July 20 (National Ice Cream day). Relying on farm-fresh cream and premium ingredients sourced from the Mediterranean, opening flavors range from Greek classics like baklava and cherry studded with chocolate chunks to familiar American favorites like rocky road and cookies and cream. A strawberry vegan sorbet and several frozen Greek yogurt options are also available. Color-changing spoons are a whimsical touch in a bright blue-and-white Georgetown shop that speaks to Greece's flag. 3143 N Street NW Related The Inside Scoop on the Greek Ice Cream Shop Coming to Georgetown July 18 Dupont Circle: Selva started serving up Central and South American classics — from Peruvian chicken and continent-spanning ceviches, to playful takes on internationally beloved dishes like patatas bravas made with crispy bites of yuca — on Friday, July 18. Executive chef Giovanni Orellana is creating dishes inspired by his birthplace of El Salvador and his decades-long culinary career working at Peruvian, Italian, and Mexican restaurants. Mayflower Club owner Antonis Karagounis is behind the new restaurant, which is his first sit-down spot since opening Rewind Diner in 2018. The verdant green artwork and velvet furniture make the cozy restaurant – named after the Spanish word for 'jungle' – the perfect place to have a filling meal and ease into a night out, with plenty of tasting flights of liquors distilled across the Americas and the Mayflower Club on the floor below. 1223 Connecticut Avenue NW July 17 Old Town: Thompson Restaurants brought its Southern-styled brunch chain Milk & Honey to the heart of Old Town Alexandria on Thursday, July 17. The two-story space that formerly housed Thompson's Hen Quarter features two full-service bars, a large private dining room, and seating for up to 188. 801 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia Foggy Bottom: Taco Cat, an adorable, all-day taco shop from vet D.C. restaurateur Tim Ma, quietly sauntered into Western Market food hall in mid-July. An unapologetically fun menu loops in lots of global flavors into tacos, burritos, and tortas. Along with classic breakfast tacos on corn tortillas, the morning menu also includes the levanta muertos ('wake the dead') ceviche packed with shrimp, cucumbers, red onions, tomato dressing, hot sauce, avocado, and Tajín. For the ultimate wake-up call, there's an option to add a tequila shot for $4. Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW July 14 Clarendon: Around since 2003, New York City's vegetable-loving cafe Westville debuts its first location outside of its Big Apple-area home base on Monday, July 14. Located at the Crossing Clarendon, Westville specializes in char-grilled turkey burgers, truffle fries, and 20-plus rotating market veggies like crispy Brussels sprouts and pesto mashed potatoes, plus veggie chili and carrot cake for lunch, dinner, and brunch. A full bar slings wines and beers from the DMV and home-made cocktails like a strawberry Aperol spritz and blood orange paloma. 2800 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia Westville's menu goes heavy on fresh vegetables. July 11 National Landing: D.C. hospitality brothers Ian and Eric Hilton (H2 Collective) opened all-day French brasserie Bar Colline on Friday, July 11. Located next to Amazon HQ2, Bar Colline is their massive metropolitan answer to the charming original (Cafe Colline), which debuted in 2020 in an Arlington suburb. H2's longtime chef Brendan L'Etoile imports its top-selling steak frites dunked in bearnaise, croque madame, and duck confit. A 50-foot wraparound bar slings spritzes, local beers, and wines, with daily happy hour that includes $6 red, white, and rosé pours from 3-6 p.m. 269 19th Court S., Arlington, Virginia Related A Supersized French Bistro Swings Open Near Amazon HQ2 Woodley Park: Ethiopian-owned Yours Cafe debuted in mid-July with coffee drinks made from beans roasted in-house, plus breakfast and brunch served all day daily (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Order wine, beer, and cocktails (naturally, a great espresso martini) starting at 11 a.m. 2619 Connecticut Avenue NW July 10 14th Street NW: The first D.C. location of unconventional food hall Wonder opened up just off U Street on Thursday, July 10, churning out dishes from celebrity chefs like Michael Symon, Marcus Samuelsson, Bobby Flay, Nancy Silverton, and José Andrés. Ordering from screens or the Wonder app, diners can order everything from a pizza from Brooklyn's famous Di Fara or a Samuelsson-certified fried chicken sandwich on one tab. Wonder's culinary team makes everything, from Mexican or barbecue to Greek pastries, on-site. The chef-lauded food hall will soon embark on a local expansion tear, with locations planned for the West End, College Park, Cleveland Park, Reston, Franconia, and Navy Yard. 1925 14th Street NW Union Market: Baltimore-born Crepe Crazy DMV brings its sweet and savory crepes down to D.C. with a new stall inside Union Market. 1309 5th Street NE July 1 Union Market: Shilling Canning Company's cult-favorite fried chicken finds a standalone home inside Union Market. Chef Reid Shilling's new fast-casual venture Fancy Ranch sources all foul from family-owned Amish farms in Indiana and Pennsylvania. The casual bar is serving up white or dark meat with a cornbread waffle slathered in maple butter and fun sides like aji verde potato salad, classic slaw, or slow-cooked beans. Make your chicken even fancier by adding on caviar and a glass of Champagne. Fancy Ranch's long-term pop-up residency lasts through September. 1309 5th Street NE H Street: Chef Tim Ma is at it again, this time with an all-you-can-eat sushi spot for H Street NE. Sushi Sato, located in the recently closed Bronze space, offers endless nigiri, rolls, and izakaya dishes for $55-$75 (with a two-hour time limit). A namesake 'Sato roll' showcases soft-shell crab, eel, and scallop dressed with a spicy sauce. Izakaya orders include everything from steak sandos to monkfish karaage. Ma is also behind the newly opened Lucky Danger in Penn Quarter. Eater DC All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
