By Emilio Frenk.
Director: Morgan Neville
Cast: Joanne Rogers, McColm Cephas Jr, François Scarborough Clemmons, Kailyn Davis, Yo-Yo Ma, Joe Negri, David Newell and Fred Rogers.
Rating: Excellent.
Academy Award Winning Director for “20 Feet from Stardom” Morgan Neville, brings “Won´t You Be my Neighbor?”, another fantastic documentary that was a throwback to my childhood.
The film explores the life and legacy of Fred Rogers, who created and starred in the children´s television show “Mister Rogers´ Neighborhood”, one of the most iconic tv shows in American culture.
In “Won´t You By My Neighbor?” Morgan Neville went deep and explored some of the facets of Fred Rogers that some of us didn´t know that really happened. Here it took us to a journey of a man who had a big heart and huge love not only for children but for life itself.
On the other hand there was a dark side on Fred Rogers here that was reveled, but still I liked the fact that it centered in a man that has become an iconic figure.
Like in “20 Feet from Stardom”, Neville went deep here in Fred Rogers and interviewed people like Fred Roger´s wife Joanne, and his two sons, that is the first time that they speak about their father.
I grew up of with “Mister Rogers`Neighborhood” and like I mentioned previously it brought me good memories.
This film is a definitely learning experience and also I believe that Fred Rogers not only is an iconic figure, but also an Institution for Educational Television as we know it today.
Morgan Neville directed another great, sweet and touching documentary. I feel that it is a film that people will be moved, specially for the ones who either watched the show or people who knew about it as well, regardless of watching it or not.
I would not be surprised if “Won´t You Be My Neighbor?” creates noise in this year´s awards season and I hope that it does.
“Won´t You Be My Neighbor?” is not only one of the best documentaries I have seen in recent years, but it´s definitely one of the year´s best movies.
I highly recommend it and I can guarantee you that you are going to be touched and inspired by the life of Fred Rogers.