The best kind of biographical documentary is the one that scrutinizes all of the parts of their subject’s life – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and that is what we get in this moving documentary about the two lives of Christopher Reeve.
An accomplished stage actor, Chris was tapped to play the Man of Steel in the first modern superhero movie, and even today, decades later, his performances as Superman and Clark Kent still ring true.
Virile, Masculine, Gorgeous, and Athletic – all physical attributes of the man, came to an abrupt end when he suffered the most severe of spinal cord injuries, so completely paralyzing him that he could not even breathe on his own. But instead of giving up, he transformed himself into an advocate for people with disabilities, pushing for new research and raising huge amounts of money so that one day, he hoped he could walk again.
We see his enormous strength and support from his family and friends, especially his loving and caring wife, Dana. Each of them was just as crushed emotionally at the tragedy of Chris’ injury. Still, it feels as if Chris and everyone close to him rose to the challenge and created this new, cohesive team with the lofty goal of supporting Chris and bringing his message of hope to the physically challenged.
The film does not paint him as a saint, revealing his somewhat selfish behavior after splitting from his first partner. Still, none of that matters as he decides that finding a new purpose for himself is far better than giving up – something he considered during the horror of the first few months after his accident. At many times a tear-jerker, this uplifting story shows Chris’ indomitable spirit and the amazing people who loved him.
Playing in limited theaters now.
