by Luanne Paul King

Amelia

Hilary Swank stars in Amelia, which dramatizes episodes in the life of free-spirited Amelia Earhart, the world-renowned aviator. Swank was also the co-producer; Mira Nair (of Monsoon Wedding and Vanity Fair) directed the film.

Richard Gere plays George P. Putnam, who published the book We by Charles Lindberg, describing Lindberg’s 1927 flight from New York to Paris. Later, Putnam also published books by Earhart, becoming her friend and then her husband. Navigator Fred Noonan had a pivotal role in Earhart’s life and last flight; Christopher Eccleston portrays him superbly.

A shy woman, Earhart became a legend — a glittering star in the aviation firmament. She remains famous even now, decades after she disappeared in June 1937 while attempting the first circumnavigation of the world. Earhart and Noonan flew west to east. After refueling in Lae, New Guinea, Earhart reached the vicinity of Howland Island, but never arrived there. Theories abound as to what happened, and millions of dollars have been spent to understand why Earhart and Noonan’s communications with the Navy ship Itasca and others failed. What happened if they landed safely somewhere else?

Despite her shyness, Earhart was forthright in her relationships. Raised in a family distressed by her father’s alcoholism, she developed her own values. On Feb. 27, 1931, the day of her marriage to Putnam, she wrote and hand-delivered a letter to him: “I want you to understand I shall not hold you to any medieval code of faithfulness to me nor shall I consider myself bound to you similarly.”

Earhart encouraged women to compete. She flew solo to Europe, taught at Purdue University, and wrote three books. In 1929 she gathered 26 women pilots in Atchison, Kan.; they formed an organization that became known as the Ninety-Nines, named for the number of charter members, with Earhart as the first president.

In Atchison, Earhart’s birthplace, you can also find the International Forest of Friendship. Each year pilots and aerospace notables gather at the forest to share their experiences and plant commemorative trees.

The film reminds us that Earhart is still a favorite missing person.

2 hours. Rated PG.