Film Review - Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Images courtesy of Warner Bros.
Oh Superman…
As far as origin stories go, few are quite as well-known as that of Superman – the Kryptonian warrior who fell from the stars to live amongst us on earth. The delineation between the man of steel and his mild-mannered journalistic alter-ego razor thin – yet never uncovered by the unassuming – the full truth reserved only for those closest to him. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story chronicles a remarkable case of life imitating art, offering an intimately powerful portrait of Christopher Reeve’s achievements, personal tragedies, and his relentless fight against seemingly insurmountable odds.
Amidst the sheer proliferation of superhero fandom in contemporary cinema, it’s understandable that many of us may not be able to fathom a time before comic-book blockbusters amalgamated into a vast and complex transmedia multiverse. However, it’s important to realise that the 1978 release of Superman was truly groundbreaking in every sense of the word; firmly imprinting itself as a landmark in science fiction storytelling and visual effects prowess, sonically imbued by John Williams’ iconic score. However, the legacy of the Richard Donner classic is a mere footnote which co-directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui choose not to prioritise, instead showcasing an unflinching portrayal of the Juilliard graduate donning the cape and spandex.
Unlike similar profiles, Super/Man opts to forgo the standardised linear biographical retelling of Chris Reeve’s life in a manner which reflects the personal philosophy he adopted in his later years – having chosen not to delineate his life before and after his 1995 equestrian accident which rendered him a quadriplegic, but instead look upon his life as an evolving timeline. It doesn’t sugarcoat nor frontload his rise to stardom, nor his struggles to move beyond his Kryptonian typecasting; nor does it merely reduce his life post-accident to a tragic yet inspiring coda of an infallible superhero. Instead, it assures balance by lingering on the unsavoury elements which humanised him; whether it be Reeve’s difficult relationship with his father, the emotional paternal aloofness he exhibited himself before the accident, and the sheer emotional magnitude which his accident ultimately inflicted upon his friends and family.
However, like the man who portrayed him, Super/Man is many things. An unflinching profile, yes, but it’s also a tale of perseverance and endurance in the face of overwhelming adversity. It shines a light on Christopher Reeve’s tireless activism for spinal cord injury research for the remainder of his life, his courageous return to acting despite physical limitations, and his eventual pivot to directing in the late ’90s. Beneath it all, however, lies a deeper story—a love story. It’s a testament to the unwavering support of his family, particularly his wife Dana, who stood by him throughout his rehabilitation, symbolising the strength of human connection even when the body may fail.
A powerful, inspiring emotional suplex, Bonhôte and Ettedgui have crafted a poignant piece of nonfiction which goes against the grain and purposefully avoids the trope of biography to properly encapsulate the spirit of a figure sorely missed by many. Celebratory, but never hagiographical; Super/Man is a remarkably grounded and thoughtful profile of a man whom we all believed could fly – and maybe we still do.
Follow Ben on Instagram, Twitter and Letterboxd.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is screening in cinemas now.