Children remember Superman actor’s ‘great father’

The children of late actor Christopher Reeve remember the Hollywood star as a “great father”.

Reeve, who played Superman in the 1970s and 1980s, died in 2004, ten years after being paralyzed in a serious horse riding accident.

His three children appear in Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, a new film about his life, which is tipped for a best documentary nomination at next year’s Oscars.

His son Matthew Reeve said the actor’s celebrity status did not overshadow family life, explaining: “He didn’t bring his work home, he was just like any other father.”

Matthew told BBC One’s The One Show on Tuesday: “We had to mind our table manners, eat our vegetables, do our homework and practice the piano.

“But if you went to the playground, of course the kids would recognize him. He was just a great, great dad.”

When asked how other children reacted to him, Matthew joked, “Once they got past the initial distinction between fiction and reality, and they realized he can’t fly, the disappointment would begin.”

Many viewers who watch the documentary will already know Christopher Reeve’s story.

The American actor was one of the most recognizable movie stars in the world and was thrown from a horse in 1995.

The documentary zooms in on how he adapted to a new way of life after the accident, and thus gained a new perspective on life.

It’s essentially a film about a man coping with a disability, but it’s also loaded with plenty of Hollywood glitz and humorous moments.

There’s archival behind-the-scenes footage of Reeve filming Superman and a retelling of what a huge cinematic phenomenon the film series became.

The big talking heads in the documentary include Reeve’s friends and fellow actors Glenn Close and Susan Sarandon.

Reeve’s friendship with the late Robin Williams is also strongly represented, with the Mrs Doubtfire star’s jokes raising the tone of the film.

Super/Man even includes a trip to the Oscars. Shortly after his accident, Reeve accepts an invitation to appear at the Academy Awards, while he and his team try to figure out if the trip is even logistically possible.

“(That trip) was incredibly important to him,” Matthew told the BBC, “because it was his first public appearance.

“He was quite worried about it. He was nervous. But it was also a great source of pride for us. We stayed up very late watching it.

“Seeing a person with a disability, a movie star, on stage, in front of such a large audience, had a huge cultural impact.”

The showbiz anecdotes in the documentary provide bright spots in an otherwise tragic story about a man who lost his career in one fell swoop.

But there are positives to the way Reeve handled the aftermath of the accident. It’s fascinating to see how his relationships with the people around him changed.

Although his severe physical limitations proved to be an obstacle in many aspects of his life, they paradoxically seemed to improve his relationship with his children, with whom Reeve was able to build a deeper relationship as a result of their focus on conversations rather than activities.

“As much as it is a film about one man’s struggle, it is also a family drama, and the way his paralysis over the years changes their dynamic is riveting to watch,” said IndieWire’s critic Siddhant Adlakha.

The actor’s injuries are creatively depicted by a green substance – clearly intended to resemble kryptonite – gradually covering his bones in reconstructed X-rays.

The film received warm reviews. Although the directors “tell Reeve’s journey with appropriate tenderness, it’s not hagiography,” SlashFilm’s Bill Bria noted.

“It consistently reminds the audience that this was a real human being, and not really a savior from another star.”

“The film doesn’t downplay or downplay how difficult it was for Reeve to transition into being a disabled person,” added Culture Mix’s Carla Hay.

“There are plenty of tear-jerking moments in the documentary, but there are also many moments of joy and hope.”

However, the positive critical response is no guarantee for an Oscar nomination.

The Academy’s documentary arm has repeatedly shunned celebrity properties in recent years.

In the most recent awards season, films about actor Michael J Fox and musician Jon Batiste both failed to even make it into the category.

The documentary, which will be released in November, had its British premiere at the London Film Festival on Monday.

Alexandra Reeve Givens commented, “This year marks the 20th anniversary of our father’s passing, and while that wasn’t an intentional way to celebrate the anniversary, it just felt like the right time where we feel comfortable enough to feel ready to share this story.

“And there is also a whole generation of people who want to know more about his life.”

The film includes home videos that the family shared with the documentary’s directors, Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui.

“Reliving those experiences was incredibly powerful,” Alexandra said.

“(The movie) obviously tells the story of our father, (with) great Superman footage from the early years, but they also turned it into a much bigger story about what it is to be a family and stick together thick and thin.”