Super/Man: A hero’s journey, On-Screen and Off

Few actors who play heroes on screen become real-life heroes; Christopher Reeve was one of them. He survived one of the most challenging ordeals any man could face, and Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story highlights his struggle.

The documentary covers Reeve’s life, from his Hollywood career to the horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Then, he started a new chapter as an activist for disability rights and managed to make a difference like his real-life character, who always saved the day.

Directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui are behind this ambitious project, which features Reeve's three children – Alexandra Reeve Givens, Matthew Reeve, and Will Reeve.

FILE PHOTO: Actor Christopher Reeve, most noted for his role as "Superman," is shown in a scene from one of the "Superman" films. File Photo

Otto Burnham co-wrote the documentary, which discusses Christopher Reeve’s life before he became Superman and after the accident until his death. It was released theatrically last month after successful showings at film festivals. In that order, it teaches the audience about resilience, faith, and defying the odds.

What works for the documentary

Like a perfect autobiography, this documentary uses Christopher Reeve’s old interviews to show his side twenty years after his death. The documentary reveals Reeve’s complex family history: he came from two broken families and turned to theater to escape his troubled life. The documentary explores his key relationships, be it his strained relationship with his poet father, Franklin, or his friendship with classmate Robin Williams.

The association that takes the cake, however, is Reeve’s relationship with his wife, Dana, who was responsible for keeping him alive for nearly a decade after his accident. She stood her ground even when Reeve’s mother wanted to take him off the ventilator, and it was her words, "You're still you, and I love you,” that breathed life into the injured Reeve. Thanks to the many videos from the Reeves family vault, you can see the unseen footage of Christopher Reeve post-accident.

Christopher Reeve and Dana Reevenukta.com

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is presented in a non-linear fashion, which is the best way because first, it establishes Christopher Reeve’s ordeal and then takes back the audience into the past to show the peak of Christopher Reeve’s career. Alternating between before and after Reeve's horse-riding accident that left him paralyzed gives the audience an idea of what Christopher lost and how it brought his former partner, the mother of his first two children, and his wife Dana closer together.

Not many know, but before he got married to Dana, Christopher Reeve advocated for live-in relationships; how he met Gae Exton in England before succeeding as Superman and why he left her to pursue marriage with Dana is something the audience gets to learn in this documentary. By the end of the documentary, you realize that both his partners played an active part in his rehabilitation – one through her kids, the other through her actions.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve StoryIMDb

Talking about kids, Reeve’s three children—Matthew, Alexandra, and Will—share heartfelt stories about their father, showing how deeply they still love and miss him. They not only resemble their dad but also inherit his courage.

The documentary explains that after his youngest son Will lost both his mother and father within 18 months, it was elder half-brother Matthew who stepped up and played the role of the father and even took care of his father’s foundation, renaming it as Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which has helped many Americans through its ongoing paralysis research.

From best friend Robin Williams and Superman director Richard Donner to former Senator Joe Biden, everyone in this documentary talks about Reeve’s comeback as a ‘Man with Nerves of Steel’ and how vital his struggle was for those who suffered spinal injuries like him.

Through this documentary, the audience learns that Reeve appeared in a wheelchair at the 68th Academy Awards and received a standing ovation. His appearance gave hope to millions of Americans struggling to accept their condition. It was only after their ‘Superman’ spoke that many finally acknowledged their disability—and resolved to fight back, just like their hero.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: (L-R) Matthew Reeve, Alexandra Reeve Givens, David Corenswet and Will Reeve attend "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" New York Premiere at Museum of Modern Art on September 18, 2024 in New York City. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images/AFP

What doesn’t work for the documentary

Thankfully, Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) aren’t discussed in detail. However, Somewhere in Time (1980) and Rear Window (1998)—Reeve’s finest works, pre- and post-accident—are only mentioned in passing, though they deserved more attention since they allowed Reeve to show his acting skills. There was also no need to revisit the controversial TV commercial in which CGI made it appear that Reeve was walking, which upset many viewers.

Also, only three to four of his friends were asked to talk about him, most notably Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jeff Daniels. Many more friends and colleagues could have been invited to share their memories of Reeve. The cast of Smallville could also have been included, considering Reeve’s cameo in the series late in his life, where he appeared alongside his former co-star Margot Kidder.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 10: Will Reeve lights the Empire State Building in celebration of the premiere of Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and the work of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation at The Empire State Building on October 10, 2024 in New York City. Noam Galai/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust/AFP (Photo by Noam Galai / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The iconic John Williams Superman theme, synonymous with Reeve’s portrayal of Superman, is noticeably missing. It could have been used efficiently at the beginning or the end because otherwise, the beginning and ending feel sad and underwhelming. No offense to the lifelike CGI model of Reeve as Superman, but the music should have been included.

The Verdict: Up, Up and Away!

For someone like me who loved Christopher Reeve even in his worst films, this documentary is the ultimate tribute to his legacy. The scenes where Dana Reeve tells her husband that he has to live for them, to the moment she realizes he’s gone, are the most moving segments of this documentary.

It also shows the audience that with determination, they too can overcome significant challenges, like the Reeves, who went from a family that went from loss to one that inspired hope in millions with their resilience and belief system. They might not have been able to see Christopher Reeve walk again, but his work inspired many who found the strength to stand on their own two feet.

Susan Sarandon and Christopher Reeve nukta.com

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is here to stay and will stay with me for a long time. It offers valuable lessons for anyone who knows someone with a disability and gives them hope. Ironically, the ‘S’ emblem on Superman’s suit symbolized hope—a symbol Reeve brought to life on and off-screen.