- Date of Release: 01 November 2024
- Genre: Biopic, Documentary
- Language: English
- Watch On: Amazon Prime Video
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Introduction
There is a commonly observed myth called the Superman Curse. This is often referred to as a series of misfortunes that have occured in the lives of creative people involved in the recreation of the iconic DC character, Superman. Some of the famous celebrities that are often associated with this curse include George Reeve and Marlon Brando amongst a handful of others. But this unfortunate phenomena was started with Christopher Reeve who was paralyzed for life after suffering from a neck injury. Christopher Reeve are arguably remained the face of the popular DC comic character Superman for years. With his chiseled persona and his bulky frame, he was instantly the darling of the masses, so much so that he forever remained typecast as the iconic character, playing a superhero onscreen for years. Therefore, his documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve story can be regarded as a dichotomy of sorts. This is because it also sheds the tremendous struggles endured by the actor in what turned out to be the final phase of his life, invariably pushing himself to be a real life superhero!
The Good
Super/Man – The Christopher Reeve Story is in many ways the reconstruction of the life of one of the more popular actors to have ever played the character of Superman – Christopher Reeve. And the non-linear narrative truly adds the right kind of complexity while highlighting the dual life of the actor. So while you are introduced to his twin families (Reeve was married twice), you do get a fair idea of the personality of the individual who at the end of the day, wanted to and was enjoying the perks of life. He had his family by his side, his vacations included skiing or horse riding, while he remained one of the top drawers of Hollywood – What could possibly go wrong? Yet as they say, life is the greatest leveller, so the moment you least expect it, there is a twist that may flip your world (for the better or the worse). So after his accident, when you did get a glimpse of Reeve lying in bed with multiple pipes drawn from his neck, it did paint a pitiful picture. This was particularly true because the drama did oscillate between the past and the present, and as a part of the former, you were witness to a man that was an alpha-male, humbly starting with broadways before his big Hollywood break that would potentially change his life.
The idea of bringing in his extended family in the documentary, definitely added a lot of depth with respect to their individual perspectives along with a resonating emotional quotient that did act as driving forces in the narrative. For instance, Reeve’s second wife Dana was shown to be instrumental in holding the family together – being a doting wife and taking care of her husband, while also balancing the act with her children. In a scene, you see her throwing a birthday party for her then 3-year old toddler outside the ICU, that did paint an emotional picture – a bittersweet feeling considering that Reeve lay helpless on his hospital bed. I would also lay emphasis on the graphics that added an insightful visual representation of the extent of the injury brought upon on Reeve. This, while the systemic beats of the drama tracing his journey did contribute to an emotional watch – his moment on the Academy Awards podium made for one of the rousing and emotionally heavy points in the documentary. The thematic representation of the inherent dichotomy in the drama was another driving force by showcasing the contrasting life of Reeve, while even touching upon his private life which were filled with shortcomings. The levels of emotions reach a hilt at the end while also doubling up as a searing journey of resilience and courage, wherein you reflect on the will power of the individual of never wanting to give up, despite all the obstacles in store. And such is life too, often coaxing to bring out the best in you in your worst phases.
The Not So Good
While I was thoroughly engaged in the documentary for most parts of the runtime, I couldn’t help but feel that there was a little lag in the momentary shift between the second and the third act. The portion including Reeve’s activism that sparked an entire community to come together, leading to the setup of his foundations for the disabled did feel a little rushed, and ironically half-baked. This may have also to do with its non-linear structure that didn’t allow me to fully invest in this phase, while switching back to his personal life in the events leading to his eventual accident. For me, the emotions did not exactly land in this brief phase, even as the events leading to the emotionally heavy ending got the documentary back on track. This was just a minor blip in an otherwise engaging and emotionally investing documentary.
My Final Take
The amount of negativity and darkness that a paraplegic person would be going through, would truly be unmeasurable. Having being in close quarters to a paraplegic person for a major chunk of my life, I was witness to this person who always put up a happy face while the going may have been just so tough for her. That person was my grandma who had spent 34 years of her life within the four walls of her home (majorly), while always greeting me with a smile and positivity. The little comparison of trauma that she may have been umdergoing was during the lockdown, when I was tied up at home for months. That phase itself was dark, but it just made me reflect on her darkness, captured in a little capsule. Getting a feeling of being helpless to begin with, to fighting it out with all the obstacles is what made Christopher Reeve’s life special too. He was one of those rare human beings that did get a chance to play Superman twice – once on celluloid, and the other in reality. And thoughts also to his family who may have also undergone so many levels of sacrifices which would again be unimaginable to the world. But to truly have levels of contribution to the society is what Reeve and his family managed to successfully achieve. Be it Reeve’s directorial ventures *after* his accident, or his decision to open a foundation for the disabled and spend hours in research in order to prevent other lives from suffering, would go down as a few of his massive achievements. As Christopher Reeve said in his own words – ‘A Hero Is An Ordinary Individual Who Finds The Strength To Persevere And Endure In Spite Of Overwhelming Obstacles’. And I guess that is what made him ‘Superman’.
Conclusion
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is an emotionally heavy documentary featuring the inspirational life of the OG Superman that makes for a heartfelt watch. Highly Recommended!
