Super/man: The Christopher Reeve Story – A Poignant Portrait of Tragedy and Strength

Super/man: The Christopher Reeve Story is a deeply moving and exquisitely made documentary film that depicts a life worthy of a person like Icarus who flew high as an eagle but instead it ended after a terrible accident. This documentary directed by Ed Gibbs depicts Christopher Reeve who is best known for playing Superman but goes beyond that focusing on the man who is so much more beneath the cape, a man battling against himself and not giving up even when the odds are heavily against him.

The documentary looks at how Reeve became a star and the toll of playing perhaps the most famous superhero in the history of cinema. At the same time, it degrades the ideal silhouette by reaching towards his life and his connections. One of the most emotional points of the story is represented by Dana, Christopher’s wife, whose love and care during the oftentimes dark days are portrayed with such grace. The position that she plays in his life, acting both as a caregiver and an emotional supporter deserves the attention it gets.

Accessing the heart of the film, the relationship between Reeve and Robin Williams is further biographically developed. Their interactions are painted through interviews and video sequences where Williams is seen lifting and cheering up Reeve even after the latter’s terrible ordeal. It serves as a nostalgia over the significance of friendship and humor in time of a calamity.

What makes Super/man, particularly, in this case, the fact that you can describe how Reeve lost his bravery and then became an activist and advocate for spinal cord injury research. The film shows sadness that comes with his accident imposing prohibitions on his ability, but, most importantly, it shows depression the transformation lead by seeking ways of change even with such restrictions.

One can say that in Super/man there were quite a few moments when it was possible to break down emotionally, but all of it was, after all, a story about love, friendship and bravery and leaves no one unmoved. For those who have been fans of Reeve or for that matter don’t really know who he is, this documentary is a really good watch.