‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ is a beautiful movie about a beautiful person – Fred Rogers. I hadn’t heard of him before and didn’t know that he was a real person when I watched the movie. I thought he was just too nice to be true. His gentle persona. His soft and slow way of speaking.  His kindness and patience. His respect for all and sundry. So nice. The cynic in me was unsure. Waiting, but not wanting, for the other shoe to drop. Thank goodness, it was all for real. Mister Rogers (as he was popularly called) was really, truly a good guy. I was very relieved and happy.

Fred Rogers was the host of a long running, mainly US children’s television series, called ‘Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.’ In a make-believe neighborhood comprising various puppet characters, he taught, sang and spoke to children. In an inimitable, simple, sincere and thoughtful manner. About feeling good, valued and loved. About handling emotions, relationships, experiences and things – little, big, new, confusing, difficult. And, with suggestions to help handle them.

Quite longingly, I wish I had known Mister Rogers when I was a kid. He would have helped me make sense of a lot of things. That said, he still ‘spoke’ to me – a much, much older adult. His words and actions in the movie resonated with me. He made sense to me.

Briefly, the movie is about a hard-hitting journalist, Llyod Vogel, who is assigned to do a 400-word profile on Mister Rogers. Skeptical and questioning by nature, Llyod doesn’t want to do what he sees as a puff piece, and is hell-bent on uncovering dirt on the squeaky-clean Mister Rogers. Along the way, he discovers himself and realises that Mister Rogers really is the real deal. Llyod’s relationship with Mister Rogers, his estranged dad, his wife and baby son and his sister are well captured. Intense at times. Complicated, at times. But almost always, relatable.

Tom Hanks, who has yet to disappoint me in his choice of movie roles, played Mister Rogers wonderfully. I first saw Matthews Rys on ‘The Americans’ and later, ‘Brothers & Sisters.’ He was perfect as the high-strung Llyod Vogel. Both actors and the supporting cast made the movie come together rather nicely.

For me, a good movie is one that makes me revisit and ponder post-movie. ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ checked that box. It made me ponder if a child would be able to forgive a family member, especially a parent, who has behaved badly or betrayed them. In the movie, Llyod’s dad, had abandoned his sister and him, and cheated on their mum, who had cancer. Years later… after the father suffers a heart attack, there is a gradual thawing of the strained relationship. So, is impending death the only reason to make amends or reunite? Or is it the only time a child or sibling will forgive and hopefully forget the deeds of the offending party? I guess it depends on the individual’s personality and the real or imagined size of the pain and hurt. 

My other ponder was the restaurant scene when Mister Roberts asks Llyod to – remain silent for one minute and reflect on the people who made him who he is today. My one minute introspection, both good and bad qualities that have and continue to shape me, were attributed to my parents – punctuality, tidiness, impatience (three will do), my Standard One teacher, Ms Poh – kindness and Winnie the Pooh – attitude to life.

My third ponder was when Mister Rogers says, he doesn’t want to eat anything that has a mother. It was powerful, funny and thought provoking. It was enough for me to consider becoming a full time vegetarian. I am nearly there as I only very occasionally have fish and chicken.  I know chickens have mothers. Do fish have mothers? Seriously, I asked my husband this question when we were out having curry hot pot fish fillet. I don’t remember him giving me an answer. But I do remember vegetarians defending drinking cow’s milk but not eating beef with, “We drink our mother’s milk but we don’t eat our mother.”  I am still on ponder mode on turning vegetarian.

My fourth ponder was when Mister Rogers visits Llyod’s dad, who hasn’t long to live. Llyod’s family is gathered at his dad’s home. The conversation shifts to holidays in the future when silence descends. Death. Anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.  I am generally a rational person and while I can talk about death, it just makes me so sad. More sad than uncomfortable because it’s the finality of life. What next? What then?

I like Mister Rogers. He was genuine. Wish there were more like him.