Director Christopher Reeve initially wished to end life support after his horse-riding accident left him paralyzed.

In 1995, Christopher Reeve's fall from a horse resulted in a life-threatening injury, prompting him to undergo a high-risk medical procedure to save his life.

According to Peter Ettedgui, co-director of "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story," it was uncertain if he would survive the operation.

Ettedgui stated, "That moment marked the beginning of our story, as when he eventually awoke, his first thought was to request the removal of life support."

With the love and support of his wife, children, and close friend Robin Williams, Dana found a "purpose" to live.

He stated, "To us, that was the most beautiful story. You begin at the worst possible point and then embark on a lovely journey, in my opinion."

The filmmakers were surprised to discover the extent and depth of Reeve's friendship with Williams while making the documentary, according to Ettedgui.

Reeve and Williams formed a strong bond while sharing a room at Julliard in the 1970s, and their friendship persisted until Reeve's passing in 2004.

Director: Christopher Reeve discovered a newfound sense of purpose through the love of his family after his accident.

Katie Couric on "Today" was told by Reeve that Williams was the first to arrive in Virginia when she was in trouble.

He joked that it's good he wears a seat belt in his chair, "because I would have fallen out laughing" during one of the comedian's visits. "It's funny, in the midst of a tragedy like this, in the midst of a recuperation, you can still experience genuine joy and laughter and love, and anybody who says life is not worth living is totally wrong."

The Mercury News reported that Williams continued to visit Reeve and bought his family a special van for the Academy Awards, just a year after the accident.

In 2004, Williams eulogized his deceased friend, referring to him as his "brother" and a constant source of support during Williams' tumultuous life.

""Super/Man: The Christopher Reeves Story" co-director Ian Bonhote stated that they had "nothing" about Reeve's widow, Dana Reeve, before making the documentary because she was "completely unknown" due to her achievements. However, they felt it was important to bring her forward and give her the respect she deserved."

Dana and Christopher Reeve, who married in 1992, both passed away in 2006, two years apart.

The director of the Christopher Reeve documentary was surprised by the depth of the friendship between Reeve and Robin Williams.

When they began filming the documentary, they believed it would focus on a fictional superhero character who transformed into a real-life hero.

"Ettedgui stated, "We didn't realize the family behind that was quite remarkable until we realized we were making a film about the entire family, not just Christopher.""

Bonhote stated that they had met his kids through Zoom a few times, but when they finally met them in person, all three kids resembled Reeve in a unique way.

"What we didn't realize was that behind that, there was a quite remarkable family, and at a certain point, we realized we were making a film about the entire family, not just about Christopher."  — "Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story" co-director Peter Ettedgui

An ABC correspondent, Alexandra, 40, is the CEO of a nonprofit organization, and Matthew, 44, is a filmmaker.

"Bonhote stated that Will is an entertainer who loves the camera and the performance. Despite not initially intending to become an actor, he is in front of the camera daily as a reporter for 'Good Morning America.' Alexandra is an activist who runs an NGO in Washington, while Matthew is a filmmaker. It's amusing how these three individuals embody different roles in their lives."

In the film, we used them extensively because they were the best at conveying Chris's sense.

Having their life made into a movie was considered a "privilege" by Will Reeve.

The director of the Christopher Reeve documentary hopes that viewers will be inspired by the film: "Life doesn't end after loss."

In a recent interview with Planet Chronicle, Peter and Ian, our directors, shared a human story in a cinematic way, and it's an honor to have one's own life and family's story turned into a movie or documentary and to see it executed so well is a pleasure.

Reeve's level of activism after his injury surprised Bonhote.

He learned a lot about spinal cord injuries and taught himself about research, improvements, and fundraising, he stated.

Bonhote stated that when he and Ettedgui experimented with the film's narrative, they realized that certain elements possessed superheroic qualities in a realistic context. This led to the idea of incorporating Superman as a metaphor for their characters' newfound abilities.

In the documentary, the surgeon described essentially having to reattach Reeve's head to his body during the emergency surgery following the accident.

The surgery's outcome - whether walking out of the hospital or dying immediately - was determined by a millimeter's difference.

He added, "the fact that they managed to keep him alive through groundbreaking surgery and medicine was already remarkable."

On the day of his accident, Reeve, an avid horseback rider and competitor, was participating in a horse jumping contest.

Reeve, who stood 6 feet, 4 inches and had a muscular build, enjoyed other sports like sailing, skiing, and scuba diving, and he was a pilot who flew solo across the Atlantic twice.

According to the New York Times, he frequently executed his own stunts on set.

In May 1995, during a horse competition in Virginia, Ettedgui stated that no one recognized the severity of Reeve's fall because it was not a large jump.

"Unfortunately, there is no footage of the commentator saying "Superman is down" as if it were a joke. However, it seems that everyone realized what had happened after the commentator made the statement. The story then unfolds with the rush of having Superman being airlifted to the hospital for surgery."

According to Ettedgui, the emergency surgery performed on Reeve was a first-time procedure, and they had to practice it on a corpse to perfect the technique for the operation.

Matthew Reeve stated to Planet Chronicle that, despite his father's struggles, he remained the same person throughout it. He added that his father's intensity, passion, and commitment to acting, hobbies, advocacy work, and running the foundation were all carried through in his dedication to raising money for research.

Alexandra stated, "We are thrilled to share our story with a new audience, including those who may not be as familiar with him as the iconic onscreen character but will appreciate the depth of our narrative."

In his mid-20s, Reeve landed the iconic role of "Superman," which catapulted him to fame. He later reprised the character in the sequels "Superman II," "Superman III," and "Superman IV," all released in the 1970s and 1980s.

He was recognized for his work in "Somewhere in Time" in the 1980s, as well as his Emmy-nominated directing in "In the Gloaming" for HBO in 1997, despite his paralysis, and his starring role in the Jimmy Stewart part in a 1998 "Rear Window" remake, which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Ettedgui intends for viewers to understand that the film is complex and multi-layered.

"We will all face loss, illness, and possibly disability, and we will lose loved ones. However, this story is about how life continues and we can learn to cope with these challenges."