By Jesse Burchill Staff Writer Released in theaters on Sept. 21, the documentary “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” tells the story of actor and disability rights activist Christopher Reeve, who is most famous for playing Superman in the 1978-1987 film series about the character. Reeve took on the hobby of horse-riding after training to do so for a 1985 film role. He continued the hobby for the next decade until May 1995, when he was thrown from his horse at an equestrian center, becoming permanently paralyzed from the neck down. The documentary is presented by Reeve’s children Alexandra, Matthew, and William. They speak on their relationship with their father before and after he was paralyzed. It features several of Reeve’s friends, including actresses Whoopi Goldberg and Glenn Close and disability rights activist Brooke Ellison, the first quadriplegic Harvard graduate, who described how she was inspired by Reeve, who in turn directed a biopic about her in 2004. It was sad to observe the aftermath of Reeve’s accident and how it affected both him and his family. Reeve felt a great deal of guilt over the accident’s occurrence, and his wife Dana struggled with the loss of physical intimacy they once had, but they made sure to be there for each other and their kids. After the accident, Reeve connected with his children on a more personal level than the physical activities they used to do together before. He taught his son how to ride a bicycle despite his disability, and came to see his life as a continuous timeline rather than “before” and “after” his paralysis. The movie shines a light on Reeve’s disability activism post-injury, something I knew very little about before. It was genuinely beautiful to learn about Reeve’s activism efforts for basically the first time. “Super/Man” covers Reeve’s appearance at the 1996 Academy Awards ceremony, where he spoke on what cinema had taught him and the medium’s importance in displaying social issues. Reeve’s longtime friend, beloved comedian and actor Robin Williams, got a van designed to help Reeve get there - Reeve felt he needed to appear for the sake of those in a situation similar to his own, and received a standing ovation. Reeve would later become a major supporter of the Stifel Paralysis Research Center, which focuses on treating spinal cord injuries and improving the lives of paralyzed individuals. He succeeded in getting the Center a $10 million grant after meeting with then-president Bill Clinton. The Center was later renamed the Christopher Reeve Foundation in his honor. On Oct. 10, 2004, Christopher Reeve passed away from heart failure. The news and media honored Reeve after his death, and many still saw him as a hero. Dana kept Reeve’s fight for the disabled going after his death, leading the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation until her own death from lung cancer on March 6, 2006. The film ends as the camera flies through space with archival footage of Reeve as his children speak on how they found meaning after the deaths of their parents. They’re currently board members on the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, continuing the project of helping those living with paralysis to this day. “Super/Man” is a touching, powerful, and humanizing reflection on Reeve’s life and legacy as an actor, father, husband, and activist. It does not skimp on showing the fallout of Reeve’s paralysis on himself and his family, but also shows how they refused to give up. The film ends on a fitting conclusion - the last shot of the first “Superman” movie, with Reeve flying through the atmosphere and winking at the camera. Rating: A You’ll believe a man can fly!