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The production of 1978's Superman understandably receives the most attention, covering the search for someone to play the role, screen-testing Reeve, and key points throughout the production, such as the hero's first flight. Archival footage of the late Richard Donner meaningfully enhances these segments. Understandably, the documentary also heavily concentrates on Reeve's horseriding accident and what happened afterwards. With Reeve enduring a high-level spinal cord injury, the actor pondered his mortality and desired to end his life before his wife, Dana Reeve, reassured him, which gave him the strength to persevere. Super/Man explores the logistics of Reeve's expensive medical care that required 24-hour nursing care and highlights the support he received as Hollywood rallied around him.
Bonhôte and Ettedgui interview a range of participants, including all three of Reeve's children (Matthew, Will, and Alexandra) and key figures in the actor's life, from actors (such as Jeff Daniels, Glenn Close, Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon) to family, Superman producer Pierre Spengler, and more. The documentary includes archival footage of Robin Williams, who lived with Reeve during his early career when they both studied at Julliard School in New York City and was among his closest friends. Williams gives the documentary valuable moments of humour and levity, and it renders the footage of the distraught actor at Reeve's funeral even more heartwrenching. Perhaps the documentary leaves a few stones unturned (Reeve's Superman co-star, the late Margot Kidder, is not even mentioned despite being a close friend of his), but this is a minor quibble.
Instead of blind worship or a vanilla recount of the performer's life, Super/Man does touch upon his shortcomings, including the disintegration of his relationship with Gae Exton (the mother of two of his first children), whom he did not want to marry, and his perspective on people with disabilities before the accident. The lowest points of Reeve's career are covered, including the legendarily maligned Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, and it is fascinating to see the actor returning to acting and trying his hand at directing films after his paralysis. The documentary also delves into the actor's activism, as Reeve started the Christopher Reeve Foundation (later the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation) in the mid-1990s to raise money for stem cell research and explore cures for spinal cord injuries. Despite the foregone conclusion of Reeve's tragic death in 2004, the feature still leaves you hoping that Reeve will overcome his spinal injury and walk again, especially as he showed improvement later in his life with the ability to move one of his fingers.
After spending significant time watching Reeve in his personal and professional life, the actor's inevitable passing is overwhelmingly emotional. Although basic details of Reeve's death are available on websites like Wikipedia, it is incredibly affecting to hear the story firsthand from his children, who add immediacy and depth to their recount of what happened. But the story does not end there, with Super/Man also covering Dana's passing less than two years later. Despite the headiness of this material, the picture ends on an uplifting note, underscoring Reeve's legacy with the continuing work of his foundation and incorporating one last voiceover as the late actor speaks about his definition of the term "hero." Technically the first production from the newly established DC Studios, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is an incredible documentary and one of 2024's best movies.
9.2/10
