Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Super/Man:The Christopher Reeve Story |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Music by | Ilan Eshkeri |
| Cinematography | Brett Wiley |
| Editing by | Otto Burnham |
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| Release date(s) | January 19, 2024 (Sundance) September 21, 2024 (United States) November 1, 2024 (United Kingdom) |
| Running time | 104 minutes |
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| Language | English |
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is a 2024 documentary film. It tells the true story of American actor Christopher Reeve. He was famous for playing Superman in movies from 1978 to 1987.
The film shows his life after a horse riding accident left him paralyzed. It also highlights his important work helping people with disabilities. The movie was directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui. Christopher Reeve's children, Alexandra, Matthew, and Will, are also in the film.
This documentary was made by companies from the United Kingdom and the United States. It first showed at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2024. Later, it was shown in some movie theaters in the United States. The film received great reviews from critics and audiences.
Contents
The Story of Christopher Reeve
The movie tells Christopher Reeve's life story by switching between different times. It shows his life before and after his accident.
Early Life and Becoming Superman
Christopher Reeve had a challenging childhood. His parents divorced when he was young. He also had a difficult relationship with his father, Franklin. Christopher studied acting at the Juilliard School. There, he became very good friends with fellow actor Robin Williams.
When the movie Superman was being cast, director Richard Donner wanted a new, unknown actor. Christopher Reeve auditioned and got the role. This was even though his father and some friends didn't approve.
Life as a Movie Star
While filming Superman, Christopher met Gae Exton, a British modeling agent. They started a relationship. Superman came out in 1978 and was a huge hit. Everyone praised Christopher Reeve's acting. This made him a big movie star. He continued this success with Superman II in 1980.
However, being known mostly as Superman made it hard for him to get other types of acting jobs. Christopher lived in London with Gae. They had two children, Matthew and Alexandra. He wasn't happy with his career choices. He only agreed to do Superman III (1983) and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) because he felt he had to. Matthew shared that his father was often away. Christopher and Gae separated in 1987.
Meeting Dana and the Accident
Five months after his breakup with Gae, Christopher met singer and actress Dana Morosini. They started dating. Christopher had been unsure about marriage, but he eventually proposed to Dana. They got married in April 1992. Their son, Will, was born in June of the same year. Dana was a loving stepmother to Matthew and Alexandra.
On May 27, 1995, Christopher Reeve fell from his horse. This accident caused a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. He worried he had ruined his family's life. But Dana told him, "You're still you, and I love you." His friends and family supported him. His friend Robin Williams helped him laugh again for the first time since the accident. Christopher recovered at a rehabilitation center. There, he made friends with other people with disabilities.
Activism and Legacy
At home, Dana and a team of nurses cared for Christopher around the clock. With help from Robin Williams, Christopher traveled to Los Angeles. He made an appearance at the 68th Academy Awards. He received a standing ovation from the audience.
Christopher Reeve had always supported social causes. After his accident, he used his fame to speak up for people with disabilities. He also pushed for spinal cord injury research. He spoke at big events, like the Democratic National Convention. He started the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. This foundation opened centers, worked to pass new laws, and supported stem cell research. Christopher slowly regained some small body movements. However, he still needed a machine to help him breathe.
Christopher and his family felt their bond became stronger after his accident. On October 9, 2004, Christopher Reeve fell into a coma. He passed away at age 52. His children, Alexandra and Will, shared their sad memories of his passing. Matthew heard the news while on his way to the hospital. People around the world mourned Christopher.
Dana took over as the head of the foundation after Christopher's death. She also continued her singing career. Sadly, Dana was later diagnosed with lung cancer. She died on March 6, 2006, at age 44. Will was only 13 years old at the time.
Matthew, Alexandra, and Will later joined the foundation's board. They wanted to continue their parents' important work. The foundation was renamed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. Many new discoveries in paralysis research today are linked to their parents' efforts.
People in the Film
The documentary includes old footage of Christopher Reeve and Dana Reeve. It also features interviews with their children: Alexandra Reeve Givens, Matthew Reeve, and Will Reeve.
Other people interviewed in the film include:
- Christopher Reeve's half-brother, Kevin Johnson.
- Gae Exton, Christopher's former partner and mother of Matthew and Alexandra.
- Actors like Jeff Daniels, Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close, and Whoopi Goldberg.
- Politician John Kerry.
- Activist Brooke Ellison.
- Superman producer Pierre Spengler.
- Dr. Steven Kirshblum, a medical expert.
- Laurie Hawkins, Christopher Reeve's assistant.
The film also uses old interview clips of Superman director Richard Donner and Christopher's close friend, comedian Robin Williams. Christopher Reeve's own words are used for narration. These come from his audiobooks, Still Me and Nothing Is Impossible.
How the Film Was Released
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story first showed at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was part of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2024. After the showing, the directors and Reeve's children answered questions.
The next month, Warner Bros. Discovery bought the rights to show the movie worldwide. They worked with DC Studios and other companies like Warner Bros. Pictures, HBO Documentary Films, and Max.
In April 2024, it was announced that the movie would be in theaters in September 2024. It had a special limited release on September 21 and 25, 2024. September 25 was chosen because it would have been Christopher Reeve's 72nd birthday. The film was then widely released in North America on October 11, 2024. It came out in the United Kingdom on November 1. Later, it became available on HBO and Max in the United States. In the UK, it was shown on Sky UK and Now.
