In an age when we could do with more kindness and space to think and reflect, along comes the latest Tom Hanks movie, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood”.
The movie introduces us Australians to a character who is obviously well known in the US, Fred Rogers, the much-loved host of children’s television programme, Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood, which ran from 1968 to 2001.
Investigative journalist, Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is sent on an assignment to write a 400 word piece on Rogers (played by Tom Hanks) for a feature article on local heroes.
During the assignment Vogel discovers himself, addresses issues with his father, and sorts out a number of family relationships as a result of meeting with Mr Rogers. Anger, forgiveness, and death are also addressed in a gentle and authentic manner.
Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable.
Fred Rogers
It is rare to watch a movie that not only challenges self-reflection on the part of the viewer, but also provides periods of silence when that self-reflection can occur. Tom Hanks as Mr Rogers has a wonderful way of bringing the viewer into his interactions with the journalist, and turning the cinema into a giant therapy session (in the nicest possible way).
It is also rare in our fast-paced secular society, to see a focus on prayer at the heart of restoring family relationships.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood is a must-watch for counsellors, pastors and others in the caring profession, but is a movie that needs to be seen by anyone who wants to find themselves part of a gentler, kinder and more meaningful world.
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