by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What is the definition of a hero? There isn’t just one way to look at it, and there are different perspectives from which you can examine it. When you look at a film, show, book, or other stories, you find heroes that are super powered and above humanity. Obviously, in the real world, we do not see that or experience that at all, but there are people who can truly be heroes in a human way. Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui explore this idea through the life, experiences, and memories of beloved actor and activist Christopher Reeve in Super/Man: The Christoper Reeve Story.
In many ways, Super/Man navigates this presentation in traditional documentary mechanics. On the surface, it uses the expected manner of storytelling, but there is an unexpectedly powerful force that seeps through every sequence. In only around 104 minutes, the film has great energy and pacing, and it knows how to balance the mundane and the miraculous. The most powerful media that Super/Man utilizes are the home videos of the Reeve family. So many moments are brought to the surface thanks to the beautiful footage of Reeve and his family living their lives together and trying to always make the most of it.
There are other standout elements from the technical end of things as well. The film opens with a perfectly timed and edited series of clips from Reeve’s Superman films to the score of the original. This touching music lays down the right tone and atmosphere to feel every bit of emotion hanging in the loving moments, the angry moments, and the tragic moments.
What do we learn about the man? We learn the power of hope and how much that can drive us to do something miraculous. A freak equestrian accident paralyzed Reeve, but his resolve and drive made people believe that people like him could walk at some point in the future.
Through the efforts of Bonhôte and Ettedgui, along with the perspectives of Reeve’s children and his friends, we explore the man behind the hero. The film navigates the megastardom of Reeve post-Superman. We learn that he once was the type of many who leaves women in lines behind him. Reeve turned a new leaf with his new wife, Dana. Thanks to their chemistry and dynamic, their love story is the heart of the film. We learn how this man’s life and world perspective changed forever with his accident: He became a better father, a stronger activist, and inspired hope through his own actions, and not the ones he performs on the big screen. There are so many layers to Reeve, and Super/Man captures a moving and sentimental mosaic of his life and beliefs.
The Christopher Reeve story meaningfully captures Reeve’s accident and its aftermath. The deaths of both Christopher and Dana are presented in such poignant ways that this film might leave you in a puddle of tears. Through the perspective of their son, we feel the loss that was felt on a deeply personal level. There are quite a few quotes and moments presented in the doc that capture deep emotional weight. The final 10 minutes will leave you reeling. But the film leaves you with some tears of hope as well, showing Reeve’s fundraising and activism.
Super/Man might not have the geopolitical weight and leverage that many highly lauded documentaries have, but it is certainly not short of emotion and humanity. Reeve was an icon and hero for so many, whether it was his fans, those impacted by his fundraising, his wife, or his children. He was not perfect (nor are any of us due to our humanity), but this film finds the layers and complexities of the man behind the mantle and legacy.
This is one of the best documentaries of the year, and deserves to get that praise and acknowledgement.
Rating: Loved It
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is currently playing in theaters
You can read more from Shane Conto, and follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd