A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

James M Sandbrook

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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

2019

PG - 1 hour and 49 minutes - Biography, Drama.

Director: Marielle Heller

Writers: Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster & inspired by the 1998 article "Can You Say ... Hero?" by Tom Junod, published in Esquire.

Stars: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper

When I heard that this movie was going to be made I was pleasantly surprised because in my country we knew so little about Fred Rogers, so I was delighted to know more about this extraordinary man who has affected so many peoples lives and who is loved by many.

I had heard a lot about Fred Rogers and his work for some years due to the short clips I saw on the Internet of his show.
I then watched a video on YouTube about Fred, what he stood for, his religious beliefs, his strong will to help children get a good start in life and to help them understand the world that we live in, grief, sorrow, anger, love, and other issues like divorce, racism, and the like.

His show broke new ground and was a highlight in many people’s lives.

The movie is based on the true story of the real life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Lloyd Vogel.

I was unsure how Tom Hanks would do as Fred Rogers, a hard act to copy, but I think that he did well.

In 1998, Lloyd Vogel is assigned a interview with children's television presenter Fred Rogers for an article about heroes, something that Lloyd tends to feel is not what he should be doing, he seems to think that this project is below him and he has some reservations about it all.

It starts with a picture board with doors on it and Lloyd’s photo, with beaten face from a recent alteration with his father over his diseased mother, where Lloyd got punched in the face. Fred talk about Lloyd not forgiving and being angry. It is clear that Lloyd is feeling much turmoil and suffering within about how his father treated his mother when she was alive. Even Lloyd’s wife was very upset at him and called him out of control.

Fred goes on to talk about his own childhood when the children would call him Fat Freddy and such names, and he said that when he was alone he would sometimes cry. Many of us can relates to being treated just like this at school when other children were immature and unable to understand our home situation, how the mind works, and how damaging cruelty is to those who they pick on.

For me, I was not allowed to go on trips, join clubs, and be like other normal boys, so I had trouble bonding with other males because I didn’t play sports, and didn’t bond on school trips, and was not allowed to partake in events, so I became an unwilling outsider and this caused me to be angry at others, cry a lot, and was teased a lot at school and well as hurt from time to time.

So I can relate to what Fred is talking about and the situations, millions of others can as well.

Fred says, “We are trying to give children positive ways to deal with their feelings.”

and

Fred Rogers, “I don't think anybody can grow unless he really is accepted exactly as he is.”

All through the movie Fred’s innocence and genuine nice-guy character frustrates Lloyd from time to time, because Lloyd has trouble understanding where Fred id coming from. But as the movie progresses you can see the light getting through and Lloyd is not as much as he was in the dark anymore.

There is a part where Fred talks to Lloyd about Lloyd having a stuffed toy and as two adults the whole scene is clearly natural to Fred, but not so to Lloyd who is probably having some ego issues at this point.

At one point Lloyd becomes Old Rabbit, his childhood toy, and thats just how imaginative and interesting this movie is.
On the other hand the movie covers many issues about life and especially Lloyds lif and issues with his father.

This is truly an emotional and remarkable moxie which I am sure that people will gain different things from it according to their individual characters. You really get to see different views of Lloyds situation and how Fred views life differently, but in such a way that it blesses Lloyds and other people’s lives.

I enjoyed the movie and I am sure that you will too.

All the best from

James M Sandbrook.

28-1-2021.