Participants of the world premiere of the film Sundance 2024 Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story they were often moved to tears as they watched the documentary, an emotional journey that showed the hero on and off screen and his family’s unwavering support after a tragic horse riding accident that left him paralyzed.
The overwhelming emotional response to the film on Sunday was not just witnessing the tragedy and grief, but also watching Reeve persevere, choosing to keep going even though he was close to giving up. It was the unconditional love of his wife Dana Reeve, who vowed to stay by his side, that pushed him through in the end. The actor would find a new focus, devoting his life to inspiring others with life-changing spinal cord injuries.
Christopher’s three children, Matthew, Alexandra and William, attended the screening held at the Ray Theater in Park City. In the film, they give honest, emotional interviews about the life of their family, which was once led by their hero father and caring mother.
“This year, in October, will be the 20th anniversary of my dad’s death,” Matthew, 44, said during a Q&A after the screening on Sunday about why it felt like the right time to make the film. He said he and his siblings had been approached with “several inquiries” over the years, but entrusting his family’s story to this special team, including directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, just felt right.
“Everything came together really organically,” he said.
Christopher Reeve in a frame from the movie ‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’.
Herb Ritts / AUG
Will Reeve reacts to comparisons with father Christopher: ‘I always take it as a compliment’
Through extensive personal footage of the Reeve family and audio clips of the late icon, viewers can feel as if they were with Christopher before, during and after his 1995 accident.
“We knew we wanted to, if we were ever going to do it, it had to be the right time and the right team,” reiterated William, 31, “and we were going to hand over our archive, our home movies, sit down for some raw and vulnerable interviews and then to give all our trust and faith to the team that gathered around us and see what they came back with.”
“And here the end result is outstanding, so our trust has certainly been rewarded,” he added, and the audience broke into applause.
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Before the accident that changed his life, the film shows the actor’s extremely adventurous nature, always active and doing sports, even flying a plane — twice solo across the Atlantic. Seeing a man who seemingly could never sit still suddenly be trapped in his own body is heartbreaking for viewers. But the uplifting moments of joy are just as powerful.
Christopher Reeve’s son recalls dad’s ‘amazing’ Oscars appearance after paralyzing accident (Exclusive)
Christopher Reeve took to the skies after landing his first major role in Superman, the 1978 DC superhero film. The transition from off-Broadway productions to mainstream comic book film success was a polarizing topic for some in his circle, namely his father, Franklin D’Olier Reeve.
After learning the news, Franklin called for a champagne celebration – until he discovered he had misunderstood the project his son had been hired to do. He thought it was a theater production. Role in Superman he was simply not educated enough for his academic father, and this troubled the actor for a while.
But Christopher put his heart and soul into playing Superman, determined to do so to make the art of role weaving into his classical training and coming out as authentic as possible. It worked. His fans, when they met him in person, actually believed him he was Superman, and became a Hollywood success overnight.
Christopher’s daughter Alexandra, 40, emphasized that the “human connection” was what her dad “tried to bring to the role of Superman.”
“What I hope people take away is that there can be great Hollywood, but really the values and heroes are people who survive in these ordinary circumstances, find strength and find each other, and that’s really what our family was taught from the very beginning,” she said.
RELATED: Will Reeve remembers late dad Christopher Reeve on Father’s Day: ‘He gave me everything’
The inspiring documentary also takes viewers through two beautiful love stories, the one in which Christopher was with his first partner Gae Exton, mother of Matthew and Alexandra, and then Dana, whom he married in 1992 and was by his side until the end.
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Matthew Reeve, Alexandra Reeve Givens and William Reeve.
Michael Loccisano/Getty
Will Reeve remembers late father Christopher Reeve on Father’s Day: ‘He gave me everything’
Another focus of the film is the lovely friendship between Christopher and Robin Williams, who died in 2014, and is discussed throughout the documentary. The supporting cast of Robin and his wife Marsha — also featured in precious never-before-seen footage — provides a touching element and drew a few laughs from the audience as they watched the two actors’ endearing exchanges.
“I think one of the things that makes me so happy about this movie is that they go beyond what you see as a public figure and really explore what it means to be a good man,” Alexandra said. “Our circumstances were unique, but the values explored in this film are truly universal.”
Whoopi Goldberg, Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon and Jeff Daniels also appear frequently in today’s interviews, sharing brighter memories of their late friend.
Christopher died in 2004 of cardiac arrest at the age of 52, nine years after the accident.
The following year, Dana, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and died seven months later at the age of 44. Young Will, who was only 13 years old at the time, tragically lost both parents. His memory of the moment he found out his mother had died is one of the most painful moments in the film.
When Christopher died, the Reeve family created a foundation in his name and then added Dana’s name to the organization.
William, Alexandra and Matthew sit together on the board of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. Dedicated to researching a cure for spinal cord injuries, they began their father’s advocacy work.
A key moment in Christopher’s life after his accident happened at the 1996 Oscars. After the curtain rose to reveal him sitting center stage in his wheelchair, he received a standing ovation of several minutes. It was his first public appearance since the accident, and as Matthew Reeve told PEOPLE, it was “amazing” to see his father on stage that night at the Academy Awards.
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Christopher Reeve in ‘Superman: The Movie’.
Warner Bros/Dc Comics/Kobal/Shutterstock
“And what I remember most is after that incredibly warm welcome and standing ovation he received, his introduction – he continued with a wonderful speech about how cinema and movies are at their best when they not only entertain, but also inform and educate and solve problems,” added Matthew.
He recalled that they “showed clips from a bunch of movies,” like “Coming homeand Conditions of tenderness and movies that really deal with important human issues and call to action that Hollywood do more about it.”
“So that always stuck with me,” Matthew said. “And so I also feel like here at Sundance, that’s what they do and live for.”
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Now, 20 years after Christopher’s death, a film honoring his life, alongside his three children, elicited a similar reaction from the audience, who rose to their feet in thunderous applause as the siblings stood, united, to continue to honor their father, hero, and everyone’s Superman.
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Source: HIS Education