Won't You Be My Neighbor?

A little kindness makes a world of difference.

Charmingly soft-spoken and yet powerfully expressing his profound ideals on childhood and self-worth, American children's show host Fred Rogers was a unique presence on US television for generations. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was a quiet and effecting alternative for children and families in a televisual sea of violence, noise and slapstick. Daring to contextualize for children some of the biggest issues of the day - including racism, Bobby Kennedy's assassination, divorce and the Vietnam War - Rogers' hushed and unhurried delivery connected with all ages. In doing so, Rogers experienced a career where his sweet-tempered idealism charmed and influenced the world, from scores of children to recalcitrant authorities in government.

A fascinating insight into how listening to and engaging with other people can make a world of difference, Morgan Neville's film also explores the dramatic shift in the American psyche at the turn of the millennium - coinciding with Rogers' retirement - which still reverberates today.

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