True/False Film Fest 2018: WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

“You know everyone has lots of ways of feeling, and all those ways of feeling are fine. It’s what we do with our feelings that matter in this life.”

I wanted to open with a quote from Mr. Rogers because there is nothing that I can say or write that can impart the amount of love and humanity he shared with the world. Director Morgan Neville (who won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Documentary for 20 FEET FROM STARDOM) also understands that. Instead of overloading the film with talking heads and celebrities singing the praises of Fred Rogers, Neville relies heavily on archival footage from each of those special episodes. WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? serves as both a deeply moving tribute to one of life’s greatest teachers but also as an important reminder of the power of kindness.

Fred Rogers was a man of the faith. He studied to be a minister but saw an opportunity to touch the lives of children through a tool that wasn’t be used to build the emotional intelligence of a child: TV. At a time when television was used to entertain children, Fred Rogers saw an opportunity to inform. The film traces back to his beginnings starting the show in 1968 on a local channel in Pittsburgh. After a few seasons, the show moved to PBS where it quickly found an audience who welcomed Mr. Rogers into their home.

Right from the very first episode, the show tackled such themes as fear and isolation. King Friday, the ruler of the “Land of Make Believe” wanted to build a taller fence around his kingdom to prevent outsiders from coming in (the irony of this was not lost on the audience I saw it with). And as the show’s producer claims, “And this was just the first episode.” WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? hammers home just how unafraid Mr. Rogers was at addressing the fears of children as well as explaining the circumstances of real-world events like the assassination of Robert Kennedy.

The film focuses heavily on his approach to how he taught children. Even though he was religious, he didn’t preach about God or about scripture. He didn’t them what was was bad or what they should avoid. His message was one of love, and he approached it in a way that both children and adults can relate to. He understood the importance of emotional development. His unique ability to connect with children is discussed in charming interviews with his wife and some of the crew that worked with him on set, but it’s clearly evident in the footage from the show. What made his show unique might have been the quaint low-budget aesthetic or the fact that he embraced such imaginative tools as a magical projector called “Picture Picture” and a world of puppets and humans called “The Land of Make Believe.” Yet, what made Mr. Rogers special was his earnest dialogue. He was willing to be vulnerable so that children would feel comfortable being vulnerable too.

One of the most moving stories in a film that is filled with dozens of tear-jerking sequences involves the time a young boy named Jeff. Jeff was 10 when he appeared on the show. He was a quadriplegic who used an electric wheelchair to get around. As the film goes on to emphasize, it was this simple gesture of showing a boy with a disability that made a huge impact on television. Mr. Roger’s didn’t hide the circumstances of Jeff’s life. He asked about the wheelchair and how long he had been using it. In the process, he showed kids that it’s ok to talk about the hardships of life and what makes each of us unique. It’s a treasured moment in TV history that taught kids about acceptance without trying to tie it into a “message.” And all he did was simply hold a conversation with another human.

As with anything that sounds too good to be true, director Morgan Neville addresses some of the complaints and doubts some people had about Mr. Rogers. A small amount of time is focused on discussing “the entitled Mr. Rogers generation” that he supposedly helped foster. Thankfully, the film doesn’t focus on the negativity too much. And although I’d be remiss to heed my own advice, Neville does include a handful of saccharine animated sequences involving “Daniel Tiger” to illustrate the turmoil within Fred Rogers behind the scenes. Given how straightforward the host approached deep thoughts, the sequences seem like a misstep taken from a modern day approach to learning.

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? could have been comprised of 3-5 hours worth of heart-melting moments and inspiring lessons of truth. Mr. Rogers taught us it was ok to ask questions. He reminded us that we’re each different. Most importantly, he showed us that it’s ok to have emotions, to cry at the death of a pet or if our parents are getting a divorce, and to feel insecure in life. In turn, watching this film reminds us that it’s okay to sit in a room full of strangers that you don’t know and feel vulnerable; that we can connect over our shared love of a teacher who taught us we’re all unique but connected by the same emotions; that it’s okay to share those emotions with the world. The impact Mr. Rogers had on all of us can’t be measured or read about in a book, but can be seen on the faces of your neighbors walking out of the theater.  

Overall score: 4 out of 5

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? is being released by Focus Features later this year