Enzian Theater, Winter Park, FL
As my wife, Barbara, and I exited the Enzian Theater in Winter Park, Florida, we both breathed a deep sigh of nostalgia, peace and even hope. We had just viewed the Mr. Rogers movie, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Growing up, our children loved Mr. Rogers and his wonderful TV programs for kids, and now our 3-year-old granddaughter was happily watching them on Netflix. So our motivation in going to see the Mr. Rogers movie was just to take a warm and comfy trip down memory lane. And, in turn, we were well rewarded with Morgan Neville’s beautifully done documentary.
But our extremely positive feelings after the movie went far beyond the film itself. It was as if we had been released from some sort of negative internal pressure and then filled with genuine goodness. And as we talked about that, we realized how we both felt cleansed and then gifted with gems of wisdom that transcended the confines of the Enzian Theater.
What we discovered was that the Mr. Rogers movie had, at least temporarily, punctured our rising dismay at the horrific cultural and political divisions running rampant in the United States of America. Suddenly, the life’s work of a gentle, kind, compassionate yet dedicated ordained minister from Pittsburg spoke not only to children but to the current and future adult world as well.
Mr. Rogers speaks to adults, those who once were children populating his neighborhood.
The Mr. Rogers messages of unconditional love, accepting every person just as they are, generosity, and helping others, are simply basic to our humanity. This is how the man stated it so eloquently when he spoke at Dartmouth College in 2002, shortly before his death in 2003:
“When I say it’s you I like, I’m talking about that part of you that knows that life is far more than anything you can ever see or hear or touch. That deep part of you that allows you to stand for those things without which humankind cannot survive. Love that conquers hate, peace that rises triumphant over war, and justice that proves more powerful than greed.”
Fred Rogers and his neighbors
Sadly, the divisions in this country have been steadily rising over the last several decades and have exploded and solidified to such a degree as to make positive national problem solving all but impossible. I suppose that’s why Barb and I sensed a ray of hope after viewing the Mr. Rogers movie and still do. Surely the vast majority of American’s could agree on those simple but crucial principles set forth by a deeply insightful teacher of young children when he started his TV shows back in 1968.
If that agreement could truly happen and grow over time, it might well have the power to help bind the nation together as never before, be a wonderful example to our children, bridge cultural divides, elect leaders who hold Mr. Roger’s principles dear to their hearts and even rid us of leaders who do not adhere to such ideals.
And if you think that such kindness, generosity and compassion wouldn’t hold up in the rugged, nasty world of today’s politics, don’t be fooled. Watch the following video closely as Fred Rogers appeared before a rancorous Senate Subcommittee on Communication way back on May 1, 1969, as he spoke his quiet truth to power when critical funding for PBS was at stake. The result was no less than astounding, especially after the chairman had previously dismissed with prejudice many other PBS supporters:
As of this writing, the Mr. Rogers movie, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, is showing only in select theaters across the United States. Hopefully, it will get a wider viewing very soon. Even so, if you can possibly find where it’s playing, I urge you with all my heart to make that happen. You won’t be sorry and perhaps you’ll come away from that film sharing some of the same feelings Barb and I had when we left the Enzian Theater.
Tom Hanks will play Fred Rogers in You Are My Friend
Now, you might not have heard about this, but Tom Hanks will be playing Mr. Rogers in a Hollywood film coming out in October of 2019 by Tristar Pictures titled, You Are My Friend. Rather than centering on the public Mr. Rogers persona, however, this film focuses on how the life of a reporter changed forever after meeting Fred Rogers.
Folks, when Hollywood bets big bucks on such a story, you know it’s more than likely it will truly resonate with the American public. And just maybe the combination of a beautiful Mr. Rogers documentary and a related Hollywood drama will raise the consciousness of Americans enough to usher in a new era of positive public discourse and decision-making. Let’s not only hope this could be so, let’s make it so. Share this article and spread the good word about the Mr. Rogers movie.
In case you would like to delve a little deeper into the Mr. Rogers phenomenon, I’ve listed some sources below that can at least point you in some interesting directions. Enjoy.
About Fred Rogers and His Life’s Work
About Fred Rogers (The Fred Rogers Center)
Here are 5 things you might not know about Mister Rogers
Books
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers September, 2018 by Maxwell King is the CEO of the Pittsburgh Foundation. After a career in journalism, including eight years as editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer, King served as president of the Pittsburgh-based Heinz Endowments for nearly a decade.
The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember October, 2003 by Fred Rogers.
Topic Specific Articles
How a Documentary About Mister Rogers Turns Him Into a Rock Star for Our Time
Marielle Heller insists Tom Hanks’ ‘beautiful’ Mr. Rogers movie ‘not a biopic,’ reveals plot details
Take the Next Trolley to ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’
You Are My Friend (The Tom Hanks movie for 2019)
Videos
Top 10 Mr. Rogers Moments That’ll Make You Nostalgic
Why the lessons of Mister Rogers never go away
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