Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

IMDb plot summary: An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children's television host Fred Rogers.

Directed by Morgan Neville.

Won't You Be My Neighbor? is a documentary about Fred Rogers and his career, primarily his children's show Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, but also the other things he did throughout his life to try to achieve his goal of spreading kindness and conveying love. This was exactly the movie I needed to watch this year. I didn't even watch much Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood as a child, but this was so wholesome and hopeful that I teared up more than once. I loved seeing all the people who'd worked with him throughout the years talking about how deeply he cared about kids and the lessons they were learning about themselves. I expected any celebrity documentary to be more focused on trying to dig into the darker side of someone, but this really doesn't do that much at all, focusing more on his impact and heart for helping people than anything. As an educator myself, although for older ages, it really made me more hopeful about my place in the world. I may not have a reach like Fred Rogers, but I think our hearts are in a similar place, and on some level I have to trust that that is going to make a difference for someone. This was the movie I needed to watch right now, and documentaries rarely affect me that way. I'm glad I finally made space to watch it.

How it entered my Flickchart:

Won't You Be My Neighbor? > The Call

Won't You Be My Neighbor? > Key Largo

Won't You Be My Neighbor? > Network

Won't You Be My Neighbor? < Parasite

Won't You Be My Neighbor? < Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Won't You Be My Neighbor? > Tarzan

Won't You Be My Neighbor? < Once

Won't You Be My Neighbor? > Field of Dreams

Won't You Be My Neighbor? < I.Q.

Won't You Be My Neighbor? < Half a Sixpence

Won't You Be My Neighbor? > Shall We Dance? (1996)

Won't You Be My Neighbor? > Trust

Final spot: #419 out of 4014, or 90%.