West Virginia, 1957. The small town of Coalwood does only one thing, mine coal. Young school lad Homer Hickam Jr, caught up in the wonder of the Soviet satellite Sputnik blazing across the October sky, decides that rather than follow his father down the pit he will build rockets. Along with three buddies and the increasing support of an originally sceptical town Homer's obsession slowly but surely stutters towards realisation. Based on a true story this is a well told uplifting tale that mercifully fights shy of the shmaltz, has some cracking performances, particularly Chris Cooper as Homer's dad, and a gentle wit that raises it well above the average 'true story' fodder.