{"id":347,"date":"2018-07-05T05:33:17","date_gmt":"2018-07-05T05:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=347"},"modified":"2018-07-05T05:35:47","modified_gmt":"2018-07-05T05:35:47","slug":"wont-you-be-my-neighbor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=347","title":{"rendered":"Won’t You Be My Neighbor?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>For someone who grew up admittedly being \u201cscared to use words,\u201d Fred Rogers certainly found an effective way to communicate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWon\u2019t You Be My Neighbor?\u201d is equally effective in chronicling the beloved educational television program \u201cMister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood,\u201d by combining behind-the-scenes looks and clips from the series; interviews with members of the Rogers family, and colleagues or guests from the show; direct-address and archived footage or voice-over from the star himself.<\/p>\n

And the documentary-style film covers just about everything, from the show\u2019s inception to its final episode to the passing of its host to the legacy he left behind.<\/p>\n

The program took ordinary elements \u2013 \u201c\u2026 low production values, an unlikely star, simple sets\u2026\u201d \u2013 and turned it into something extraordinary by daring to be everything that children\u2019s television was not; it wasn\u2019t fast or flashy or loud.<\/p>\n

Mister Rogers felt it was important to \u201chelp children become aware that what is essential in life is invisible to the eye.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show was simple and direct and honest \u2013 and special. And so is \u201cWon\u2019t You Be My Neighbor?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I look at the camera, I think of one person \u2013 not any specific person\u2026 but it\u2019s always personal.\u201d<\/p>\n

And with that the faces of one child after another slowly make their way across the screen, the image of Mister Rogers subtly reflected in the bottom corner to fully express the impact of his statement; he may not know them by name, but clearly he\u2019s speaking directly to every single one<\/em> of these kids.<\/p>\n

Look at the way he interacts with the children, the intensity with which he listens to them.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fascinating to learn how some of the flesh-and-blood characters came to be and to learn the origin of the inhabitants of the Neighborhood of Make Believe \u2013 especially Daniel Striped Tiger, whose likeness is used in narrative illustrations throughout.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s impressive to not only see but understand the journey of how this show came together \u2013 the impetus behind it; the research and effort initiated to develop meaningful discussions; the obstacles, challenges and potential derailments that surfaced along the way.<\/p>\n

With the show, Mister Rogers took a \u201cwonderful tool\u201d of socialization and gave it power \u2013 because he listened, and he made children feel important, and he addressed the issues no one else would: death and divorce and children getting lost.<\/p>\n

There was an episode on mistakes, during which Daniel Striped Tiger doubts his worth, and one of the show\u2019s producers was both shocked and impressed by the topic: \u201cI can\u2019t believe Fred had the courage to put this into words,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The show deftly handled timely social issues, such as racial segregation and political assassination.<\/p>\n

And by doing so it opened the doors of communication and gave parents ideas on how to talk to their children about serious matters.<\/p>\n

But it always came back to this: \u201cSometimes we need to struggle with tragedy to feel the gravity of love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Truly.<\/p>\n

I took way<\/em> too many notes while watching this flick, but it\u2019s because everything here is so important and deeply profound in its simplicity.<\/p>\n

\u201cWon\u2019t You Be My Neighbor?\u201d doesn\u2019t present any real surprises; it isn\u2019t that kind of movie.<\/p>\n

Instead it\u2019s a full-range look at one man\u2019s \u201cabiding interest in children and an equally abiding belief that they deserve more from public television.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s whimsical and nostalgic, thought-provoking and sweet. It shows how \u201cMister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood\u201d encouraged artistic expression and emotional exploration: \u201cWhat do you do with the mad you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n

And it\u2019ll hit you in the feels, man.<\/p>\n

Whether or not you grew up watching Mister Rogers\u2019 program \u2013 I did, but now I feel like I didn\u2019t appreciate it enough \u2013 this flick outlining its intricacies definitely is worth checking out. It\u2019ll make you long for the days when the world was simpler and slower and kinder.<\/p>\n

His calming voice and friendly smile were welcome invitations to this quirky and wonderful little world.<\/p>\n

Thank you, Fred Rogers, for making sure everyone who watched \u201cMister Rogers\u2019 Neighborhood\u201d knew and understood what it felt like to be special, \u201cby just your being you.\u201d<\/p>\n

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@movieaddictmel<\/a>, and \u201clike\u201d her Facebook page\u00a0www.facebook.com\/movieaddictmel<\/a><\/em>. You also can email her at movieaddictmel@outlook.com<\/em>.<\/p>\n