Among the Gala premieres at the 20th Zurich Film Festival and special pre-opening event at Alice Nella Città there is “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story “by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui.
The directors of McQueen tell the life story of Christopher Reeve, who rose to global stardom as the actor portraying Superman, before a riding accident put the brakes on his career. Paralyzed from the neck down the star devoted himself to advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.
With extended interviews to Reeve’s three children and A-list Hollywood actors who were Reeve’s colleagues and friends, including Susan Sarandon, Whoopi Goldberg and Jeff Daniels, the film doesn’t follow a “before and after accident” time line but it’s guided by Reeve’s voice and stream of thoughts.
To quote the directors: “we were interested in the idea that you have Superman on screen and you have Christopher Reeve who becomes a hero of his own life. As we went along, we realized that this film was gonna be about more, about love, family, the legacy that he left behind, both the flesh and blood legacy and the foundation one”
Plot
The story of Christopher Reeve is an astonishing rise from unknown actor to iconic movie star, and his definitive portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman set the benchmark for the superhero cinematic universes that dominate cinema today. Reeve portrayed the Man of Steel in four Superman films and played dozens of other roles that displayed his talent and range as an actor, before being injured in a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995 that left him paralyzed from the neck down.
After becoming a quadriplegic, he became a charismatic leader and activist in the quest to find a cure for spinal cord injuries, as well as a passionate advocate for disability rights and care - all while continuing his career in cinema in front of and behind the camera and dedicating himself to his beloved family.
From the directors of McQueen, Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, this film includes never-before-seen intimate home movies and an extraordinary trove of personal archive material, as well as the first extended interviews ever filmed with Reeve’s three children about their father, and interviews with the A-list Hollywood actors who were Reeve’s colleagues and friends. The film is a moving and vivid cinematic telling of Reeve’s remarkable story.