A new documentary on the legendary “Superman” star, Christopher Reeve, offers an intimate look at his life and mental health struggles after being paralyzed.
For many, Christopher Reeve will always be the embodiment of Superman. His portrayal of Clark Kent in the 1978 film Superman and its sequels catapulted him to international stardom. However, in 1995, a devastating horseback riding accident left Reeve paralyzed from the neck down, forever altering his life.
In the upcoming documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, Reeve opens up about the profound impact of his injury, revealing that he once questioned whether his life was ruined beyond repair. But as shown in the trailer, it was a few simple yet powerful words from his wife, Dana, that changed everything.
“I won’t be able to ski, sail, throw a ball to [my son],” Reeve recalled thinking after learning he would never walk again. “I won’t be able to make love to Dana. Maybe we should let me go.” But then Dana spoke the words that saved his life: “‘You’re still you,’” Reeve remembered her saying. “‘And I love you.’”
Before his accident, Reeve was a successful actor who had worked with Hollywood legends like Katharine Hepburn and Charlton Heston. However, his iconic role as Superman led fans to forever associate him with the superhero, making the shock of his accident even more profound.
In the documentary, Reeve’s daughter, Alexandria, reflects on her father’s competitive nature, noting that he “didn’t necessarily slow down” when it came to sports. His son William was just 3 years old when his father was paralyzed.
Despite years of grief, Reeve chose to focus on positivity. In a 1998 interview, he shared, “There are only two choices: One is to stare out the window and gradually disintegrate. And the other is to mobilize and use all your resources, whatever they may be, to do something positive.”
Reeve dedicated the remainder of his life to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which continues to work toward finding treatments for paralysis. He passed away at 52 in October 2004, with Dana following four years later from lung cancer.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story features intimate interviews with Reeve’s three children—Matthew, Alexandra, and William—as well as his late wife Dana and a host of famous friends, including Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close, and Jeff Daniels.
The documentary is set to hit theaters on September 21, offering a moving tribute to a true superhero both on and off the screen.
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