A review of Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story by Martin Hibbert

Our vice president Martin Hibbert gives his review on the Christopher Reeve film out in cinemas from Friday 1 November 2024.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story isn’t just a film about a beloved actor; it’s a story of resilience, courage, and redefining the meaning of strength. Many remember Christopher Reeve as the iconic Superman, his chiseled jaw and boundless energy capturing the superhero’s essence. But for anyone who has experienced a spinal cord injury, Reeve’s real-life journey after his paralysis is where his heroism truly shines.

The film takes us through Reeve’s life-changing accident in 1995, when a horse-riding accident left him paralysed from the neck down. For someone who embodied Superman on screen, the injury was shattering, both physically and emotionally. Yet, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story highlights how Reeve took his life-altering injury and used it to become a tireless advocate for spinal cord research and a voice for those who faced similar challenges. The film is candid about his struggle, the depression he faced, and the moments he felt like giving up—elements that will resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced a similar path.

What’s striking about the film is its refusal to gloss over the realities of life after a spinal cord injury. Reeve’s story touches on everything from navigating relationships and family, to confronting the physical pain and limitations he endured daily. The film doesn’t paint over these experiences with unrealistic optimism but instead shows how Reeve found purpose in working for the betterment of others in the spinal cord injury community. His work ultimately paved the way for significant advancements in rehabilitation, research, and awareness that have since benefited countless people.

The film is honest, moving, and, at times, painfully relatable. Seeing someone who once seemed invincible struggle with the same fears and doubts that anyone with a spinal cord injury might face can be incredibly affirming. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story reminds us that strength doesn’t always look like a cape and muscles; sometimes, it’s finding hope amid despair, supporting research that brings change, and refusing to give up on the belief that recovery is possible.

Watching Reeve advocate, not just for his own improvement but for everyone affected by spinal cord injuries, makes this film an inspiring testament to the human spirit.

– Review by Martin Hibbert (SIA vice president)