DJariya

Loved this movie. Saw a matinee yesterday.

Just wonderful experience re-living a magical part of my childhood. Fred Rogers is just a great human being and a very important part of children's television.

I liked that a lot of it was told from Fred's own voice through archived interviews and it was also spliced in with new interviews from his wife, son, friends and colleagues. I think this was actually better than the PBS one that Michael Keaton hosted several months ago. It gave more information and insight into Fred Rogers the man.

I loved the interview with Francois Clemmons. He's a singer who appeared on Fred's show a few times and is a gay man. But, Fred didn't allow him to come out on the show even though they were good friends. It was just a sign of the times back then in the 70's. I when Clemmons was asked about some speculation that Fred might be gay and he said absolutely not....."If he was a gay man, I would have known"

I liked that they didn't dwell on the part of Fred getting sick in the early 2000's and succumbing to cancer. Just a brief mention that he didn't like to see the doctor and had persistent stomach problems.

If this is playing near you, you should absolutely see it. Don't think that it's redundant because the PBS documentary already aired. I think this was a more personal side to him as opposed to the other one which was more about the show and it's anniversary. They even touched a little on the depression he went through after the show ended and how he was asked by PBS to talk to the nation in promos following 9/11 because they thought people needed to hear from Mr. Rogers.

An A from me.

brayzie

It is playing by me!

Thanks for the thread bump, I forgot about this movie. I'll try to see it this week.

SmackDaddy

It expanded wider this past weekend and my wife and I were able to catch it. FANTASTIC!!! If you don't get a little "sand" in your eye, then you might not have a soul!

I LOVED the senate testimony. I'm sure there was more, but seemed like he pretty much saved PBS.

PatD

I've seen it once last week. I'm most likely going to see it again next week. It's a clear Oscar contender. Not only is it inspiring, and filled with warm fuzzies, it's SMART. The scene where we see the first episode of Mister Roger's Neighborhood and what the character of King Friday the 13 is up to is so prophetic it will blow your mind.

TomOpus

This was a great documentary. I liked that it wasn't a total love-fest of Fred. Glad his widow had a large presence in this. They must've been a wonderful pair.

5/5 for me.

mhg83

Saw this yesterday afternoon. I grew up watching Rogers and was a great nostalgia trip as I hadn’t watched his show in years. Such a positive uplifting man . His son was on the money calling him the second coming of Christ
I’ll admit I did get teary eyed at many moments

tanman

Just another personal story of someone's encounter with Mr. Rogers.

https://www.vox.com/first-person/201...s-neighborhood

dex14

This premieres on HBO on Saturday.

Noonan

Thanks! Setting it to tape.

DWilson

I believe it's also running concurrently on PBS this Saturday.

Mabuse

DJariya

Well, it was a theatrical feature film. PBS is probably going to air with their usual sponsorship drive interruptions seeking donations.

story

Just tell Picture, Picture you want to watch it after you feed the fish.

My kids like Mr. Rogers and my spouse and I loved the documentary, I'm not sure how much they'd get out of it, though. It seems to be made for adults more than kids, which is fine, but they see my excitement that it will be on PBS and they want to see it and I think they'll get bored quickly. We'll see.

DJariya

Sadly Joanne Rogers has passed away. RIP

Norm de Plume

Coincidentally, I finally watched this documentary a few days ago. It was pretty good, but I wish it had been edited better and more expository on the man himself, not just the show. It ended up being about on a par with the documentary that aired on TV 2-3 years ago, Mister Rogers: It's You I Like (2018). The definitive Fred Rogers documentary has not been made, and now probably never will be. Still, that ending, with a commencement speech of his playing over shots of interviewees, didn't fail to elicit a tear or two. Also very moving was when he told Francois Clemmons "I love you", or words to that effect, after Clemmons wondered whether Rogers disapproved of his homosexuality. He did not, though he did tell Clemmons that if it got out that he was going to gay bars, the show would be finished.
A lovely, decent, gentle man. Needless to say, if only more people were like Rogers, the world would be a better place.