Courtesy of Sundance Institute | Photo by Herb Ritts / AUGUST.
Park City, Utah, Jan 31 – As “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” premiered during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, audience members were visibly holding back tears, being pulled into the story of not just Christopher Reeve but also his family. The lives of the mother of his first two children, his wife, and his three children were intertwined throughout the documentary in a way that brought Reeve’s life and legacy to the forefront. This documentary ultimately becomes a film about a family – with each family member learning how to deal with their own individual trauma.
In many narrative films today, when a character acquires a disability, there is a perception that one may be better off dead. When Reeve first came to terms with his disability, he thought of ending his life. “It dawned on me,” he says, “that I had ruined my life and everyone else’s.” It was not until his wife Dana said “You’re still you, and I love you” that he decided that he felt supported enough to live. This showed how important it is to have family support when acquiring a disability.
Reeve is shown living a productive life. Ultimately, Reeve and his wife Dana start a foundation that has helped numerous individuals living with spinal cord injuries and paralysis. Much like Michael J. Fox in “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” which premiered at Sundance last year, “Super/Man” shows how Reeves was able to utilize his Superman fame to advance disability awareness and inclusion. Reeve went from a blockbuster superhero on screen to a role model that made a difference off screen.
Courtesy of Sundance Institute | Photo by Warner Bros / Alamy.
Filmmakers Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui previously worked on the Netflix documentary “Rising Phoenix,” which focuses on the history of the Paralympic movement. This allowed them to become knowledgeable of the disability community and how to portray disability with nuance and without relying on typical tropes.
After rehab, the film shows Reeve returning home. His wife mentions that their insurance will only pay for a certain amount of time supporting around the clock care at home. Many people who acquire a similar disability are forced to live in nursing homes, even when they are young, just to receive a higher quality of care. While this moment is short, it highlights a very important aspect for disabled individuals.
Bonhôte and Ettedgui use interviews from Reeve’s family as well as close friends like Glenn Close and Susan Sarandon to share personal anecdotes and tell the story of Reeve’s life and impact. Much like “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,” interviews are mixed with scenes from throughout Reeve’s career – causing an overlap between the actor and his character of Superman. Archival audio from Reeve, who died in 2004, as well as his long-time friend Robin Williams, who died in 2014, are woven into current interviews to tell a story not just from Reeve’s family and friends but also from Reeve himself.
The documentary sold to Warner Bros. Discovery for roughly $15 million after its Sundance premiere. Ultimately, “Super/Man” will be available on the streamer Max, which owns the original 1978 “Superman” film.
