How Christopher Reeve’s ‘Remarkable’ Family Gave Him ‘Purpose’ After Accident

How Christopher Reeve’s ‘Remarkable’ Family Gave Him ‘Purpose’ After Accident

By Movieguide® Contributor

Following the accident that left him paralyzed, SUPERMAN actor Christopher Reeve found “purpose” that led him to embrace his new life.

Reeve fell off a horse in 1995 and underwent a risky operation, with doctors unsure if he would even survive.

“It was touch and go to whether he was going to come out of that operation alive,” Peter Ettedgui, co-director of SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY told Fox News. “For us, that was ground zero for the entire story, because obviously, when he then finally did come round, you know, his first thought was just ‘Please just switch off life support.’”

However, the love and support of his wife Dana, his children, Matthew, Alexandra, and Will, and longtime friend comedian Robin Williams helped Reeve’s see there was still “purpose” to his life.

“And that, to us, was just the most beautiful story,” Ettedgui explained. “You start at the worst point you can possibly imagine, and then you go on this quite beautiful journey, I think.”

SUPER/MAN’s co-director Ian Bonhote spoke about Dana’s role in Reeve’s recovery and navigation of his new life, saying that he and Ettedgui knew “nothing” about her before they began making the documentary.

“He was the famous person you knew about or you had details about him,” Bonhote said. “Her — she was completely unknown. And again, that’s, I think, because she achieved so much but didn’t get the same respect … to her name. We felt it was really important to bring her forward.”

Ettedgui added, “What we didn’t realize was that behind that, there was a quite remarkable family. And at a certain point, we realized we were making a film about the entire family, not just about Christopher.”

Movieguide® previously reported on Dana and Reeve’s relationship:

SUPERMAN star Christopher Reeve’s wife Dana showed him unconditional love in the midst of the most tragic event of his life.

The recent trailer for the upcoming documentary SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY revealed the special moment.

While in the hospital paralyzed after a horse-riding accident, Reeve wanted to give up his fight for his life.

“I ruined my life and everybody else’s. I won’t be able to ski, sail, throw a ball to Will. Won’t be able to make love to Dana. Maybe we should let me go,” Reeve says in the trailer. Then he recounted the moment his wife restored his hope.

“And then she said the words that saved my life: ‘You’re still you. And I love you,’” he reflected.

Reeve’s children have spoken about how moving it was for them to be part of the documentary, with son Matthew telling People it “means everything” to him.

“It’s a real honor to just be in a position to help tell his story for the best of my own memories,” he explained.

Youngest son Will told Entertainment Weekly, “The response overall has been gratifying and fulfilling and meaningful on multiple levels. It’s a treat as the son of Christopher and Dana Reeve, just from a child’s perspective, it is meaningful to have people love my parents and to get the opportunity to talk about my parents with the world. I’m so proud to be their son. I’m so proud to be a part of this family.”