To me, the greatest superhero movie is hands down, Richard Donner’s Superman, starring Christopher Reeve. This film, featuring a grown man in tights hung on wires, made you believe that Superman was real and that a man could fly. It also shot its 24-year-old star to stratospheric heights until tragedy struck. Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui’s documentary, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, documents the life of this truly heroic figure, Christopher Reeve.
Super/Man opens with the events surrounding Christopher Reeve’s life-changing accident. In 1995, during an equestrian competition, Reeve was thrown off his horse and shattered his first and second cervical vertebrae, leaving him paralyzed and permanently dependent on a ventilator to breathe.
The film follows Reeve’s recovery from the accident. The first act walks us through his life up to this point. He was born in 1952 to artist parents. His father, a novelist, was leery of Reeve’s acting pursuits. Throughout his entire life, from high school plays to his time at Juilliard and his casting as Superman, his father never expressed any approval of his accomplishments.
One of the most touching segments of the documentary was his relationship with his Juilliard roommate, Robin Williams—yes, that Robin Williams. What made them best friends was that they were polar opposites and balanced one another perfectly.
The second half of Super/Man covers life after the accident and the love and support that he received from his family. This includes his former partner, Gae Exton, whom he met on the Superman set, and his two children, Matthew and Alexandra—all of whom appear in the film. We also hear from Christopher’s youngest son, Will, who was three years old at the time of the accident.
“…a person who perfected his craft, spoke to the world as if they were his equals, and turned tragedy into something positive.”
The family speaks a great deal about the challenges they faced taking care of Reeve. His wife, Dana, declared at the time of the accident that she would always be there for him. This bold, loving statement came with pitfalls…and rewards along the way. Christopher used his circumstances to create something positive, founding the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.
Reeve’s story is inspiring, and directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui tell it in a touching and tear-inducing way. The film’s central theme revolves around Superman. His story is told through interviews with his family and prominent friends, including Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, and John Kerry. The rest comes from archival interviews with Richard Donner and an extensive library of family videos.
There’s also a bit of art. At the beginning of the film, we see a stylized computer model of Reeves as Superman floating in mid-air. Through voice-over, we begin making connections between Reeves and Superman. When an accident occurs, the model becomes infected with Kryptonite. It’s a powerful image, for sure.
Super/Man is the powerful and inspiring story of Christopher Reeve. Calling someone ‘great’ should not be taken lightly, but Bonhôte and Ettedgui’s documentary makes a strong case for such a title of greatness being bestowed upon Reeve. More than ever, I’m convinced it’s a title well-deserved. Super/Man presents a person who perfected his craft, spoke to the world as if they were his equals, and turned tragedy into something positive. See Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and bring a box of tissues. You’ll need them.
"…makes a strong case for such a title of greatness being bestowed upon Reeve."
