Children of 'Superman' Star Christopher Reeve Share How Accident Altered His Perspective: 'Needed to Break My Neck to Learn'

Christopher Reeve Share How Accident Altered His Perspective:

'Needed to Break My Neck to Learn'

It's been two decades since the beloved "Superman" star, Christopher Reeve, passed away, and now, a new documentary is sharing details about his life before and after a tragic horse-riding accident.

In 1995, Reeve fell from a horse during an equestrian competition, which left him paralyzed from the neck down. Nine years later, at the age of 52, he succumbed to a heart attack after battling an infection.

"With 2024 marking the 20-year anniversary of our father’s death, it felt like the right time to reintroduce him and his heroic story to the world," expressed his youngest son, Will Reeve, in an interview with Deadline.

Will praised the team behind the documentary, titled "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story," including directors Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui. "Everything came together in a way that we knew as a family we could be open, honest, and vulnerable," he said. "That trust has been rewarded in a way that we’re just so thrilled about and can’t wait for the world to experience as well."

The documentary premiered at Sundance over the weekend and is currently seeking distribution. All three of Reeve’s children, Matthew and Alexandra with Gae Exton, and Will with wife Dana Reeve, participated in the documentary, which unveils new details and behind-the-scenes footage from Reeve’s life.

"One of the joys is that they uncovered so much archival footage. So, there’s the outtakes from the original audition for ‘Superman,’ interviews with dad from the ’70s and ’80s when we were still young kids," shared Alexandra in an interview with The Wrap.

"Seeing him at the height of fame and even old home movies we hadn’t spent much time with – suddenly we’re uncovering these moments and seeing them on the big screen. All of that woven together has been really beautiful and powerful."

The documentary also sheds light on how Reeve’s relationship with his children evolved after the life-altering accident. Matthew recalls his father's previous tendencies, such as leaving to ski in France the day after Matthew was born and often expressing love through competitive activities, like skiing races with his kids.

"Our love language was activity before," Alexandratold Variety. "Suddenly, you’re spending time just hanging out in dad’s office looking each other in the eye and talking for two hours."

According to The Guardian, Reeve acknowledged the changes, saying, "I needed to break my neck to learn some of this stuff."

The film delves into Reeve’s challenging relationship with his own father. "It was difficult to breathe easy when he was around," Reeve said of his father, as reported by The Guardian.

Reeve’s children also recount an unverified family tale where Reeve’s father mistakenly thought his son had won a role in the play "Man and Superman" and ordered champagne. Upon realizing the mix-up, Reeve’s father reportedly disapproved.

Reeve struggled with being primarily known for his role as "Superman" and the idea of being a hero. Before taking on the iconic superhero role, he had focused on theater, using it as a refuge after a childhood affected by his parents' divorce at age 3, according to The Guardian.

Jeff Daniels, who worked with Reeve on stage, recalled advice from fellow co-star William Hurt, who warned against taking the superhero role, saying, "Don’t go, you’re going to sell out."

The documentary also explores Reeve's experience filming with the legendary Marlon Brando, which did not meet Reeve's expectations. The Guardian notes that Reeve described Brando as "phoning it in" and suggested that Brando "took the $2 million and ran."

In essence, "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" provides an intimate look into the life of Christopher Reeve, highlighting his triumphs, struggles, and the impact of a tragic accident on his relationships and perspective. The documentary, with the participation of Reeve’s children, weaves together archival footage and interviews, creating a powerful narrative that goes beyond the iconic image of Superman.