In the documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, directed by Peter Ettedgui and Ian Bonhôte, Christopher Reeve shares his love for acting. He enjoys knowing the storyline when he takes on a script. However, Reeve could not predict how his own story would unfold.
He transitioned from playing Superman in the hit movie Superman in 1978 to becoming a strong advocate for spinal cord research after a tragic accident left him paralyzed from the shoulders down.
In Super/Man, Ettedgui and Bonhôte highlight Reeve’s significant impact on spinal cord research, the family he cherished, and the true meaning of being a hero.
What Is Super/Man About?
Super/Man does not follow a straight timeline of Reeve’s life. Instead, it shifts back and forth between his life before and after the accident that left him paralyzed. Reeve faced challenges from an early age, trying to win the approval of his father, who was difficult to impress.
He attended Juilliard with Robin Williams and performed Off-Broadway with actors like Jeff Daniels and William Hurt. He felt extremely nervous during his screen test for Superman, to the point of sweating through the suit.
The documentary shows that, as a trained actor, Reeve wanted his performance as Superman to be art, not just a commercial success. While he loved playing the role, Super/Man reveals his struggles with returning for the third and fourth sequels.
He desperately tried to break away from the iconic superhero image in smaller films that did not achieve financial success. Reeve enjoyed the fame but also found it challenging to be recognized only as Superman.
Super/Man does not hold back in showing Reeve’s weaknesses and mistakes. For instance, he discusses how he grew up in a separated family and did not want the same for his children. Yet, he repeated this pattern by leaving his first two kids behind in London while he lived in the United States.
His oldest son, Matthew Reeve, mentions feeling like he grew up with a single mother because Christopher did not visit often. The film also shows how quickly Christopher moved on to marry his wife, Dana Morosini, which stood out to Matthew.
Super/Man Highlights the Importance of Family
The most moving moments in Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story occur after his accident, where his family becomes his source of strength. The film highlights the incredible work that Reeve and Dana did to support spinal injury research.
Their efforts and Reeve’s status as Superman significantly impacted public awareness of this cause. Reeve did not pursue this research for his own benefit but to show how important it is for people to improve their lives. He used his talents as a director to bring attention to this important issue.
Through touching home videos, we see what life was like for the Reeve family. Daily life is difficult, and although Dana tries to be strong, it is clear that she misses the husband she once knew and the comfort he can no longer provide.
Despite these challenges, the love within the family is evident in the videos, showing a man who remained loving, ambitious, and strong. Interviews with Reeve’s children provide insights into his strengths and weaknesses, emphasizing that what made him heroic was his dedication to doing his best in difficult circumstances.
Reeve’s Friendship with Robin Williams
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story shines when it shows the friendship between Reeve and Robin Williams. They share a strong bond, feeling more like brothers than friends since they grew up together. Williams did everything he could to support Reeve, whether by making him laugh or helping him celebrate his life.
The film captures this special friendship through the perspectives of their close friends. As Glenn Close points out, both actors faced their own struggles, and it’s hard to imagine that if Reeve were still alive, Williams would not be as well.
By alternating between Reeve’s life before and after his injury, Ettedgui and Bonhôte highlight a life defined by his work, whether on screen, through his foundation, or at home, trying to be the best father possible.
This technique shows the life Reeve lost and how he made a significant impact in the world, even if it was not the way he had planned. The editing in Super/Man is skillful, transforming what could have been a straightforward documentary into a rich portrayal of what shapes our identity—both the good and the bad.
Beyond Reeve’s legacy as Superman and his life after the accident, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is a heartfelt documentary about family. It emphasizes the importance of spending time with loved ones and appreciating what we often take for granted.
The film shows how Reeve’s foundation continues to influence lives and how his children carry on his work. Super/Man illustrates what happens when someone uses their abilities to create positive change and make the world a better place.
Still from Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Credit: Sundance)
Ettedgui and Bonhôte’s emotional documentary shows that a true hero is someone who does their best with what they have, highlighting the resilience of individuals and how significant change can arise from painful experiences.
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story chronicles Reeve’s transformation from a beloved Superman actor to a dedicated advocate for spinal cord research after his accident. It highlights his struggles, family bonds, and friendship with Robin Williams, showcasing his resilience and commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Survivor Season 47 is starting with something all devoted fans love: chaos! CBS’s reality series is two weeks into the season, but viewers are still shocked by the surprising elimination of this season’s Golden Boy during last week’s premiere. Season 47 brings the usual fierce gameplay and unexpected betrayals.
It also has a frantic, thrilling energy, which has already caused one player to fall apart just two days in. Another player is playing so aggressively that he might have already ruined his chance at winning the $1,000,000 grand prize.
One of these dramatic moments has already affected Pod Save America host Jon Lovett’s chances. His lack of connections and his closest ally’s public betrayal made him the first person eliminated this season.
It was an exciting and surprising start that left viewers wondering if the rest of the season would keep this enjoyable chaotic vibe.
Survivor 47 Episode 2 is Packed with Action
Every season of Survivor seems to have at least one truly messy tribe, and Andy Rueda seemed determined to take that title for the Yellow Gata group in the premiere. In this episode, he is still struggling after the public confession that got his only ally (and potential backstabber) voted out.
Despite this setback, Andy manages to sneak away and find a Beware Advantage. He notes its hiding spot and vows to come back for it later, only to find that someone else has taken it while he was gone!
Unbeknownst to Andy, the Advantage was found by Anika Dhar and Sam Phalen. Sam keeps it secret from Andy but tells his closest ally, Sierra Wright, that he wants to use it on Andy during the next tribal council to send another, less chaotic player home.
This situation becomes a comedy of errors. This is reflected on the Red Lavo beach when, after Rome Cooney found a similar advantage in the last episode, he tries to use this secret to build an alliance with Teeny Chirichillo. Unfortunately for him, Rome’s obvious searching and showboat behavior make most of his tribe suspicious.
As a result, Teeny shows Kishan Patel the hiding spot, and Rome catches them in the act! It was a funny and tangled moment that ended with Teeny assuring Rome they wanted Kishan in their alliance, a hurried statement that Rome correctly realizes is untrustworthy.
This kind of tension is typical for Survivor. The threat of elimination creates anxiety that eats away at the carefree excitement players feel when they first enter the game. This anxiety is noticeable throughout the Blue Tuku tribe. Everyone is scrambling to form alliances.
Well, almost everyone. Gabe Ortis pretends to have an alliance with Kyle Ostwald and TK Foster. Meanwhile, he tries to recruit Caroline Vidmar into his secret partnership with Sue Smey—a proposal she initially refuses. It takes Gabe showing his secret idol to finally convince her he is trustworthy, creating a new ally who quickly proves essential.
Still from Survivor 47 (Credit: Paramount+)
This is because TK also manages to recruit Tiyana Hallums into what he sees as the tribe’s true power alliance. She agrees to side with him, even though she has quickly become annoyed by his bossy attitude. She explains to the camera that she does not need to like him to use him in the game.
Rising Tensions Before the First Tribal Council
The tribes head to the ocean for their second immunity challenge, where they are tempted by safety from tribal council and also some Survivor scuba kits for the first two who complete it. This challenge is similar to last week’s. The tribe starts on a buoy in the water before jumping in to grab a heavy bag of rice.
They then get it to shore and maneuver through a blind obstacle before a final, three-person puzzle decides their fate. One part of the challenge involved violently stabbing the bag to reveal its insides. This act leaves its edible contents leaking out for Rachel LaMont to try to shove in her pockets to sneak home.
Eventually, her tribe wins, with Lavo following closely behind, and Jeff Probst takes a moment to confiscate her “stolen goods.” This was a funny moment that the losing Tuku tribe really needed. Yet, despite their upcoming tribal council, Tiyanna puts on a brave smile, an expression that Jeff asks about.
TK questions why losers like their team would have any reason to smile. This comment rubs everyone the wrong way, especially Tiyanna, creating even more tension as the group heads back to prepare for their first tribal council.
Once they return to camp, TK explains that he is not used to losing in any area of his life. He is irritated that not only did his team lose, but they also dared to smile about it.
The pair seems to smooth things over with TK apologizing. However, Sue sees this as the perfect moment to strike and tries to persuade Tiyanna to form a fake “girls’ alliance” to eliminate one of the strongest players in the game.
Still from Survivor 47 (Credit: Paramount+)
TK is unaware of this or the fact that Gabe has been quietly plotting his downfall for the past few days. He heads to council thinking he is playing a perfect game with complete control over his “allies.” This confidence is admirable but quickly proves to be fatal.
Survivor’s First Tribal Council Ends in a Shocking Elimination
While Survivor 47’s first tribal council was entertaining, it lacked the shocking intrigue of the second council. The tribe’s time with Jeff quickly became a face-off between TK and Sue. Sue calls out the clear bromance developing in their group, and TK asks whether anyone has spent more than a few minutes talking to her.
This shows TK’s biggest flaw because, while he is focused on controlling everyone, he does not notice that Sue has actually been having conversations. She had a very important one with Tiyanna earlier that day, which caused her to turn against him.
TK does not find out before Gabe shockingly decides to play his idol on himself. There had been talk of him using it on Sue to keep her safe, but there is no sign that he has any reason to worry for his safety.
This undermines his so-called “magic trick” and confuses his closest ally. Regardless of the misplaced play, their group manages to sway Tiyanna, sending TK home with a vote of 4-2.
Still from Survivor 47 (Credit: Paramount+)
What a follow-up! While there were worries that the jaw-dropping momentum of 47’s premiere would not continue, this episode delivered the kind of intricate social strategy that viewers have enjoyed for decades.
It offered thrilling insight into each of the players while hinting at the alliances and planned betrayals that will matter as the game goes on. So much happened in this episode, but as TK’s elimination showed, there is one thing every castaway must remember: you are never safe on a show like Survivor.
Survivor 47 airs Wednesdays on CBS before streaming on Paramount+.
