Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018)

Won't You Be My Neighbor? review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso

In an interview with Fred Rogers, interviewer Tom Snyder had a moment of hesitation before he asked a question he thought might be mean or in bad faith. He essentially asked Fred if he was square, inferring that he must be a little bit weird to be the gentle host of the most profound children’s television program in history. It’s not surprising for someone to fathom where this perception came from. Rogers appears so wholesome and pure on both his show and in interviews that it seems impossible to believe someone could be that cheerful and understanding of the world.

Won’t You Be My Neighbor is a deep-digging documentary that reiterates what has been stated for years; yes, Mister Rogers is that great a guy. He seemed so perfect that many rumors were started about him being a soldier. But we hear from many talking heads, from those who worked with him to his wife and children, that Fred just always seemed to be the guy he was on television; the smiling neighbor in the sweater who told millions of kids “I like you just the way you are.” Perhaps one of the most unique moments is the opening scene of an early interview with Rogers playing the piano, trying to find some philosophy between the difficulties in playing the piano to the difficulties of the world. He goes about it in such a thoughtful manner that he pulls back briefly in questioning himself that maybe he’s thinking too much about this.

As the film goes on, it’s clear that Rogers was thinking about a lot more than merely teaching kids moral lessons with his gentle talks and imaginative puppet shows. His show touched on topics most kids shows wouldn’t approach with a ten-foot pole. Subjects such as building a wall to keep out change in the land of make-believe and Rogers relaxing in a pool with a black man are written into the show as knowing allegories to the chaos of the era. Even the topic of assassination is directly addressed when one of the puppets asks about the word. Rogers’ show wasn’t just some cautious program to keep kids occupied; it addressed real concerns that kids might have about the world, from getting a haircut to the explosion of the Challenger spacecraft.

There are some revealing aspects to Rogers that are not so simple as the show made him seem. His crew remarks on how they seemed to be about as playful as that of the Sesame Street crowd. The people he worked with were pranksters that enjoyed playing jokes on each other, such as taking pictures of their butts. Rogers took this goofing off in good faith; when he discovered a photo in one of his cameras of someone’s butt, he blew it up into a poster to be given back to him as a gift. A less comical aspect of the production was when Rogers found out about one of his cast members being gay. Fred did want to risk the show coming under fire from sponsors if he were to showcase homosexuality on the show or even to the public knowledge about the show. It wasn’t easy for the actor but Fred maintained his stance on everyone he worked with, loving them just the way you are.

The film doesn’t shy away from any topic surrounding Fred Rogers. Parodies are brought up, including that of Eddie Murphy playing a ghetto version of Mister Rogers on Saturday Night Live. We learn that Rogers was cool with satire so long as it wasn’t satirizing his mission to make educational programs for children. Fred’s somewhat failed adult-oriented show of understanding the world is also brought up in how it didn’t quite resonate as well. Speaking of cynical adults, the criticism of Mister Rogers raising a coddled generation is also brought up, as though telling someone you love them is akin to giving everyone a trophy. Never has Rogers been more missed with such misunderstandings as this coupled with the contentions of the world.

Much like Mister Rogers Neighborhood, Won’t You Be My Neighbor doesn’t lie to its audience and is very open about its host and the world he occupied. His message of love being at the root of everything from education to relationships only grows stronger with age. Long after Rogers’ death, his brilliant and thoughtful words can still be felt from a generation who grew up watching him on television. This is easily one of the best documentaries of 2018.