For my final review of a film from the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival 2019, I consider A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood – a step into the world of the American children’s television host, Mr Rogers.
A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood
Screening Date – Saturday, 12th October 2019
Whilst not very well known in the UK, Fred Rogers had an enormous impact on American culture. For thirty years, he enchanted generations of children with his television show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Watching his show now, it seems almost unbearably slow but perhaps modern children might occasionally long for something a bit more gently paced?
At least Rogers never talked down to children and he was unafraid to tackle difficult problems in his show, such as divorce and death. Indeed, Rogers encouraged his viewers to discuss what was bothering them, stating his motto as, ‘If you can mention it, you can manage it’.
Disappointingly, the screenwriters seem to have found it difficult to find any drama in Fred Rogers’ world and to have chosen to focus their film upon the fictional journalist, Vogel (who was apparently based on the journalist, Tom Junod). They have Vogel regarding Rogers as unfashionable – a relic whose style and educational ideals are outdated. Vogel is also deeply suspicious – ‘Could anyone really be so good, so kind?’ But on spending more time with Rogers (an excellent Tom Hanks), Vogel begins to question his own miserable outlook on life.
To me, the focus on the fictional Vogel is surprising because, in reality, there was plenty of drama to explore in Rogers’ own life. Any investigative journalist worth his salt would have questioned Rogers’ sons, who had a tough time in their ‘perfect’ dad’s shadow. Aside from potential sources of dirt, however, surely any biopic ought to have considered including some key moments in his life? What about Rogers’ impassioned appeal to the Senate regarding funding for childrens’ television? Or what about the courageous decision to share a paddling pool with Officer Clemmons, a black man, at a time when many public pools in America were segregated?
I loved Tom Hanks’ performance – he perfectly captures Rogers, without resorting to mere caricature. I also loved the little details, like replicating Rogers’ habit of crouching down, in order to always be at a child’s eye level when speaking with them. In the end, though, I was left underwhelmed by the film’s suggestion that Rogers was well meaning but rather bland. Like Vogel’s girlfriend, I did not want a damning exposé (we’ve surely had enough of the revelations about childrens’ television presenters in this country?) but A Beautiful Day only seemed to scratch the surface of the host and, as a result, ended up doing Rogers a bit of a disservice…
Except…except for one poignant moment…
In a key scene, Rogers asks Vogel to join him in thinking about, ‘all those who loved you into being for a minute’. The soundtrack goes quiet and Rogers looks at Vogel but movie magic means that he is looking straight into the camera, and thus, at us, into our eyes. For those few seconds, we are directly implored to undertake the same thought process. It was a truly beautiful thing to experience, demonstrating both the awesome power of cinema and Rogers/Hanks’ ability to simply and effectively touch people’s hearts.
As my final review of the 2019 Festival, I will leave you to ponder the same thing and to consider all those who loved YOU into being.
For now, with love,
Dan (Chacaruna)
Dir Marielle Heller
Prod Youree Henley, Peter Saraf, Marc Turtletaub, Leah Holzer
Scr Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster
With Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Cooper
USA
2019
107min
UK Distribution Sony Pictures Releasing