Decades before Marvel hit their stride its was Christopher Reeve who proved playing a superhero like Superman could make an actor a superstar. An all American hero able to defeat all , the actor became synonymous with those qualities. But the 27th May 1995 it all changed for him after a horse riding accident saw him sustain an injury that shattered his vertebrae rendering him instantly paralysed and almost killing him. The irony that Superman could now barely move and required assistance to even breath proved too much for the tabloids. But Super/Man – The Christopher Reeve story doesn’t wallow in this but instead rather than resign himself to the awfulness of his situation, he fought back against a tragedy that could have so easily dehumanized him
Co-directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui they don’t shy away from the darker sides of his persona. An actor who as a child tried to please his indifferent father – ironically Reeve would be largely absent father himself once stardom hit, a shy man yet something of a player when it came to women unable to commit to his on – off girlfriend Gae Exton for years despite having two children with her and his own frustration to prove himself as an actor capable of more than playing Superman ( Deathtrap opposite Michael Caine proved that despite it not being a hit).
But the strength of this documentary is the contribution of his three children Matthew and Alexandra (by Gae Exton) and his youngest Will (by his wife Dana) who was only three at the time of the accident and had his birthday party still unaware that his father was fighting for his life in hospital and might never see him again. They all speak movingly about their late father tearing up as the film moves closer to the moment he passed away in October 2004. That Gae Exton who Reeve had left for other women, still takes part and herself breaks down speaks volumes that he was always loved. These moments are hard to watch and are as emotional as might be expected – several audience members we sat with became just as tearful as the on screen contributors.
Reeve’s determination to not just survive but to walk again is inspiring and testament to his courage can be seen when he turned up initially at the Oscars with those present clearly moved although there does seem to be an unintended element of reminding Reeve of his predicament as the wheelchair bound paraplegic actor on stage looks out at a sea of people who not only stand up but clap their hands at him seems to be just rubbing it in. It’s his friendship with the late Robin Williams that speaks volumes about each man. Having trained as actors together they remained friends throughout the rest of Reeves life and there’s a typically Williams anecdote of the comic actor dressed as a surgeon visiting Reeves in hospital under the guise of being a proctologist – it’s an anecdote you can’t help but smile at through teary eyes. And yet the documentary is not so reverential that it’s not afraid to venture that Reeve’s fundraising and research profile raising would polarize just as much as it would galvanize the public.
Full of never before seen archive footage Super/Man The Christopher Reeve story is an all round portrait of a man of contrasts –a love of sport cut tragically short by a sport he loved, a family man with a troubled childhood family history, a talented actor unable to break out from his signature role and an activist who pushed hard against the complacency of others not afflicted with spinal injuries. It is a remarkable, inspiring and often moving documentary that proves the difference that one man came make.
related feature : Scott Adkins talks fear of heights, stunts & injuries in his new action film, ‘Take Cover’
related feature : Margot Kidder – Obituary
We chatted to directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui about the film and how it now fits into the ned DC era of superhero films…….
Here’s the ‘Super/Man The Christopher Reeve story’ trailer…….
