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Won't You Be My Neighbor? -
For the ways this documentary covers what Fred Rogers was like, what he believed in, the people he influenced and what his TV program was all about, it's as fulfilling of one about him I could hope for. I watched Mister Rogers' Neighborhood fairly often as a kid, and the movie's behind-the-scenes coverage does a good job at capturing its main appeals, not to mention makes me wish I watched it even more. Pointing out Rogers' use of silence and how he kept the show at the speed of life is enlightening - it's the kind of vibe ASMR fetishists are likely seeking - as is how it addresses the special way he communicated tragedies like the Challenger explosion and RFK, Jr. assassination to children. There's also his reaction to his "photography" prank, which gives welcome insight into his sense of humor.
I also like how the movie takes the time to explore Rogers' relationships with those who were fortunate enough to know him personally, especially Francois Clemmens and Jeff Erlanger, moments that I'll freely admit brought the tears. They were not tears of forced sentimentality, mind you, but ones brought on by the sincerity, purity of emotion and refreshing lack of irony of these moments. In short, it's a worthy tribute to a man who I'm not only very thankful was around during my lifetime, but also chose a profession that leveraged the best things about him and that made his chosen medium better than it was before. Oh, and it also deserves credit for taking the time to give rebuttals to misconceptions about his beliefs and in a way Fred Rogers would have approved.
For the ways this documentary covers what Fred Rogers was like, what he believed in, the people he influenced and what his TV program was all about, it's as fulfilling of one about him I could hope for. I watched Mister Rogers' Neighborhood fairly often as a kid, and the movie's behind-the-scenes coverage does a good job at capturing its main appeals, not to mention makes me wish I watched it even more. Pointing out Rogers' use of silence and how he kept the show at the speed of life is enlightening - it's the kind of vibe ASMR fetishists are likely seeking - as is how it addresses the special way he communicated tragedies like the Challenger explosion and RFK, Jr. assassination to children. There's also his reaction to his "photography" prank, which gives welcome insight into his sense of humor.
I also like how the movie takes the time to explore Rogers' relationships with those who were fortunate enough to know him personally, especially Francois Clemmens and Jeff Erlanger, moments that I'll freely admit brought the tears. They were not tears of forced sentimentality, mind you, but ones brought on by the sincerity, purity of emotion and refreshing lack of irony of these moments. In short, it's a worthy tribute to a man who I'm not only very thankful was around during my lifetime, but also chose a profession that leveraged the best things about him and that made his chosen medium better than it was before. Oh, and it also deserves credit for taking the time to give rebuttals to misconceptions about his beliefs and in a way Fred Rogers would have approved.