By Robert Yaniz Jr.

DAY 2 OF THE 2018 HOLIDAY BINGE

Fred Rogers’ legacy of compassion and acceptance is beautifully distilled into a stirring feature.

THE HYPE

Everyone knows Fred Rogers. Although the man has been gone from this Earth since 2003, his legacy — most notably, captured in his long-running PBS series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood — has touched the lives of generations of children. Through his use of music, puppets and good old-fashioned morality tales, Rogers always aimed to improve the lives of his young viewers, teaching them about the world and, most of all, the essential role that love (or the lack thereof) plays in one’s life.

THE STORY

Yet, while Rogers’ art is universally known to children of all ages, what Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) does with his film, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is reveal just how earnest Rogers’ really was. A loving portrait of a minister who applied his teachings to the unlikely venue of children’s television, the film explores the mission statement that has defined Rogers’ work and the profound effect on viewers who visited the Neighborhood of Make-Believe and those who knew Rogers in life.

THE CAST

It’s hard to imagine Won’t You Be My Neighbor? striking a powerful emotional chord (seriously, keep tissues handy) without the extensive use of footage of the man himself. Spanning decades of his life, viewers essentially see Rogers explain his philosophical approach to his programs, and his passion is beyond earnest. Interviews with key people in Rogers’ life — from his children and widow Joanne to cast members of his show — allow the film to explore the similarity between Rogers and his onscreen persona.

THE PRODUCTION

Of course, the success of any documentary really hinges on how it is assembled. Luckily for Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Neville takes great care in how he assembles the interview footage along with the deep archives he has access to. Incorporating those with a lovely, melodic score by Jonathan Kirkscey and even some animated sequences, the film neatly recreates the gentle encouragement that Rogers brought to each project. His is a loving tribute to a television icon whose impact has extended far beyond the children he hoped to reach.

THE VERDICT

No one necessarily was pining for a documentary about Fred Rogers before Won’t You Be My Neighbor? However, the reason for this lies not in his unworthiness as a subject but rather in the way his profound message has become understated and under-recognized in the years since his death. Especially in the current divisive state of the world, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is a beacon of hope shedding light on the good people can be capable of achieving and one man whose ambition and determination made an unequivocal difference.

Won't You Be My Neighbor? stars Fred Rogers and is directed by Morgan Neville.