Armed with interviews, home videos, and plenty of movie footage, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story gives us a powerful and honest look into the life of a man who was a superhero on and off screen.
Super/Man The Christopher Reeve Story Review
When it comes to documentaries, the filmmakers' goals always seem to be the same: make a moving tribute about their subject that more or less retells the story of their most iconic moments. Many gloss over the lows, like the recent Beach Boys outing, leaving you feeling like there is definitely more to the story. But you're watching these because you're a fan and you want to feel inspired by what you see. There is nothing wrong with that per se, but on the rare occasion a doc dares to go deeper, to traverse the complexities of a person's life, that's when it becomes something truly moving.
Directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, armed with archival footage, old movie clips, and close family and friends willing to open up, tell a story that is as inspirational as you'd expect while also not shying away from the darker aspects of Reeve's life. It doesn't seek to be merely encouraging nor does it cheapen itself by idealizing Reeve. Rather, Super/Man feels well-rounded, complete in its story, something few documentaries manage to achieve. It's a story about resilience, despair, courage, and hope. Reeve was a real-life superhero, one who could inspire others not to give up even when he himself felt trapped. Not many people could take something so horrendous and turn it into a positive force, but he managed it with the help of others and this is their story as much as it is his.
The directors structure their narrative around two vital moments in the actor's life– being plucked from off off Broadway to play Superman and the horse-riding accident in 1995 that would rob him of his ability to move from the neck down. As the story unfolds, alternating between the events, his family and friends (including Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close, and the late Robin Williams), as well as audio from Reeve himself, infuse it with personal anecdotes. They cleverly re-contextualize scenes from Reeve's filmography, not just Superman and its sequels but also his post-accident role “Rear Window,” to give the audience insight on how he felt about what was happening to him.
Rather than build to the life-changing tragedy we all know that happened, Super/Man begins almost immediately with Reeve, the man under the spandex. After some clips from Superman: The Movie, it moves to Memorial Day weekend 1995 at the equestrian competition that would be the end of his life in one way and the beginning of it another. The rest of the film alternates between his life before and after the accident. By choosing this type of storytelling structure, Bonhôte and Ettedgui can paint a complete picture of Reeve's life (well, as complete as 104 minutes allow), giving space to his highs, lows, and everything in between.
He was a multifaceted man. On one hand he was one of the biggest names in Hollywood, on the other he was dealing with the aftermath of a tumultuous relationship with his father, Franklin Reeve, a poet and academic who looked down on everything Reeve did. Then there was his fear of commitment thanks to growing up in a broken home that put a strain on his relationship with partner Gae Exton (who also participates in the documentary) and their children Matthew and Alexandra. And that successful career? Well, he may have been a rising star but he still struggled to find meaningful roles after Superman. He fought to free himself of the box Hollywood placed him in but unfortunately it never really happened. But he found love with Dana, had another child named Will, and in general seemed destined to do great things. The latter did happen, just not in the way he would have thought.
What gives depth to this story isn't just Reeve's words recounting the depression and thoughts of suicide he had following the accident but the candid memories that his children and ex-partner Gae share about him. He was an active man and that was how he related to his children, interacting with them through sports like skiing, biking, and horseback riding. But when the paralysis hit, they as well as Reeve himself reveal the change that occurred in their relationship. What likely felt like a death sentence to Reeve became an eye opener, one that allowed him to realize he may not be able to walk but he could still be a good father and spouse, a better one than before.
I was excited for this documentary because I wanted to know more about Reeve, a man who was my introduction into the world of superheroes. When I was young, I remember watching the Superman movies with my uncle. They were some of his favorites and it was my first time seeing anything comic related. From there I would go on to watch Tim Burton's Batman and of course fall madly in love with Marvel when X-Men The Animated Series was a thing. But no matter what I watched, Christopher Reeve as Superman always stood out whenever I thought about superheroes. It wasn't until later I learned that he had been paralyzed due to a freak accident on a horse. That was sad of course but I had no idea what he had turned that tragedy into. Eventually, I came to realize just how special of a person he was when we studied disability policies in school. There was his name, along with Dana's (his wife), and I learned how he chose to use his celebrity to become a voice for the voiceless. I was in awe of his resiliency and I was reminded of that while watching Super/Man.
Verdict
Ultimately, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is a powerful, moving, and uplifting tribute to two amazing humans: Christopher and Dana Reeve. It's a story about perseverance, kindness, and a reminder that we don't need to do everything alone. Unlike other docs, it feels honest in how it presents its hero– he had shortcomings, he had darkness, but he also radiated an incredible light. How he worked through the messier moments (alongside Dana) offers hope to everyone who watches this and learns his story. By the time the credits roll, maybe you too will feel inspired to make a difference in your world, no matter your circumstances, just like they did.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story opens in theaters across North America October 11 and on Nov. 1 in the UK. It will also be available to stream on HBO Max.
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