Taking on any superhero role is quite a commitment, as actors are tasked with representing some of the most courageous figures in storytelling. One of the most iconic actors to play a comic-book vigilante is the late Christopher Reeve. He was cast in 1978’s Superman and proved to be perfect casting as Clark Kent. His take on this classic DC hero has been celebrated by audiences ever since Richard Donner’s cinematic masterpiece was released. Fans were left distraught when Christopher Reeve was left paralyzed by a horse riding accident on May 27, 1995. This tragic occurrence is the main inspiration behind Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. Directed by documentary filmmakers Peter Ettedgul and Ian Bonhote, the movie is a beautiful portrait of Christopher Reeve’s story as both an actor and a disability activist.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story has been a major hit with audiences and critics, securing 98% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with both reviewers and regular moviegoers. The huge outpouring of support from viewers of Ettedgul and Bonhote’s documentary left many anticipating that the film would make the shortlist for the Oscar’s Best Documentary Feature Film, but the movie is surprisingly missing from the final list. Christopher Reeve and his time as both Superman and an activist hold great cultural importance. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, especially, has sparked some important conversations and it’s a shame that the Academy decided to snub this wonderful film.
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Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is a heart-wrenching documentary celebrating the actor that will soar for everyone, not just Man of Steel fans.
Many comic readers believe that Christopher Reeve was the perfect Superman and Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story supports this notion better than any other movie. Although Christopher Reeve seems quite humble in the archive footage featured throughout the documentary, claiming himself to be nothing like the character he portrayed, his actions prove that he embodies the values of Superman. During the aftermath of his horse riding fall, when he ends up with a spinal cord injury, it’s his impressive strength of spirit and his resilience that carry him through his life-changing injuries. Understandably, Christopher Reeve struggles to adjust to his new life to begin with, questioning how he can continue to support his family while being paralyzed, but he soon decides to use his disability as a force for good.
One of the things the documentary highlights so well is how Christopher Reeve acts as a symbol of hope for those in similar situations. He spends time interacting with others who have paralysis in the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and writes cards with messages of encouragement to children in the same predicament. Christopher Reeve becomes a beloved figure within the paralyzed community, who look up to him as a figure of inspiration during the actor’s time at the Kessler Institute. The line between Superman and Christopher Reeve becomes blurred as he adapts to his new role within society as a major public figure with paralysis.
Christopher Reeve Was An Influential Figure In Disability Rights
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’s main focus is on Christopher Reeve’s role as an influential figure in paralysis, and disabled rights as a whole. The documentary does a fantastic job of showcasing how Christopher Reeve was one of the most important disability activists, giving speeches at the Oscars and also the Democratic National Convention. He gave paralysis the biggest platform it had ever received, using his fame to highlight the condition and spark conversations about the support required to help those with the disability to live with their condition.
The greatest impact Christopher Reeve left on the paralyzed community was the establishment of The Christopher Reeve Foundation. The charity was founded by Christopher and Dana Reeve in 1996 and focuses on funding research into paralysis, as well as other neurological conditions. Since its conception, The Christopher Reeve Foundation has helped several individuals across the globe receive the guidance and support that they require for their disability, conducting some groundbreaking research into neurological disorders, and educating people on these disabilities. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story doesn’t shy away from criticism of the charity, though, displaying how some people within the disabled community were unhappy with the charity’s focus on ‘curing’ paralysis. The idea of acquiring a cure for a disability is highly controversial, because of how much being disabled becomes a part of a person’s identity. The fact that the documentary addresses the issues shared by these individuals makes it feel like a very authentic representation of the conversations surrounding Christopher Reeve’s activism at the time.
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Another brilliant aspect of Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is how it uses the documentary as a platform, to give a voice to another woman living with paralysis. Brooke Ellison is featured throughout as a friend of the late Christopher Reeve, and a disabled activist. It helps to place the focus on being as much about the ordinary people with the same or similar conditions to who Christopher Reeve met, as it is about Christopher Reeve himself. It shows how much of his story is about the lives he had touched as well as his own experiences with paralysis.
Brooke Ellison is particularly important to the documentary’s depiction of who Christopher Reeve was as a person, due to how the actor chooses to shoot an entire movie about Brooke Ellison’s life story. Determined to highlight to audiences the day-to-day life of a woman with paralysis, Christopher Reeve uses his status as a Hollywood icon to shine a spotlight on Brooke Ellison’s inspirational life. The Brooke Ellison Story details how Brooke was left with a near-fatal neck injury after a serious car accident, and who would go on to graduate from college, despite being told she could never lead a normal life. It would be Christopher Reeve’s last directing project and reflects how important it was to him to make sure that the paralyzed community was being heard. The Brooke Ellison Story was a major turning point in disabled representation, representing how a disability should never hold a person back from achieving their goals.
The Focus On Christopher Reeve’s Family And Friends Add A Neat Emotional Touch
Although Super/Man’s primary focus is on the late Christopher Reeve, his family is just as vital to the actor’s life story. So much of Christopher Reeve’s motivations are centered around his desire to be there for his family and to protect them from the pressures of fame. It’s his wife’s encouraging words that Christopher Reeve is still the same man that she married which gives him hope after he becomes paralyzed. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story brilliantly incorporates interviews with the actor’s adult children, Will, Matthew, and Alexander Reeve. Through their eyes, the audience is afforded a glimpse into how Christopher Reeve was very much a family man, encouraging them to partake in an active lifestyle, through activities like horse riding and skiing. The actor was keen for them to live as normal a life as possible, despite having taken on one of cinema’s most iconic roles Superman.
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Super/Man also does a sterling job at showcasing Christopher Reeve’s glitzy Hollywood stardom. The feature documentary includes interviews with various celebrity friends, like Whoopi Goldberg and Glenn Close, who reveal what it was like to work with him. From their anecdotes, it is clear that Christopher Reeve was a supportive figure in movies like In The Gloaming, establishing a collaborative workplace atmosphere while operating as the film’s director. Their love and adoration for Christopher Reeve is evident through how they talk so openly about their relationship with the Superman star.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story devotes significant screentime to the well-documented friendship between Christopher Reeve and the late Robin Williams. The pair held a strong rapport, and Robin Williams was instrumental in helping Christopher Reeve come to terms with his disability. The documentary stresses how Robin Williams would use his comedic abilities to keep Christopher Reeve’s spirits up, and his hilarious comedy routines helped Christopher Reeve through his darkest periods. One of the saddest aspects of Super/Man is the suggestion that Robin Williams may still have been around had Christopher Reeve not passed away at only 52 years of age. It shows the impact that Christopher Reeve had left not just on Robin Williams, but on the entire world, and how his loss removed one of Hollywood’s most influential figures.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Release Date
January 21, 2024
Runtime
106 minutes
Director
Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui
Writers
Ian Bonhôte, Otto Burnham, Peter Ettedgui
The Oscars are known for their controversial snubs, but this year’s biggest oversight is truly baffling. “The Farewell,” a critically acclaimed film that boasts a staggering 98% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has been completely ignored by the Academy.
Directed by Lulu Wang and starring Awkwafina in a career-defining role, “The Farewell” has been praised for its emotional depth, cultural significance, and stellar performances. Despite its widespread acclaim and numerous award nominations, including a Golden Globe win for Awkwafina, the film failed to secure a single Oscar nomination.
This snub is particularly painful for fans of “The Farewell,” as it not only highlights the Academy’s ongoing diversity and inclusion issues, but also underscores the lack of recognition for Asian-American voices in Hollywood. While other snubbed films have received plenty of attention and backlash, “The Farewell” seems to be flying under the radar.
It’s a shame that such a powerful and important film is being overlooked in favor of more traditional Oscar bait. “The Farewell” deserved better, and its absence from the nominations is a glaring reminder of the work that still needs to be done in the industry.
As we gear up for the Oscars ceremony, let’s not forget about the films that truly deserve our attention and recognition. “The Farewell” may have been snubbed, but its impact and importance will not be forgotten.
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