After answering his calling as an educational television host, Fred Rogers quickly set about establishing a personal philosophy concerning his medium: “The space between the television screen and the person viewing it was considered holy ground.” If this sounds more like something Jean-Luc Godard might say, that’s because in his own way, Mr. Rogers uncorked a new wave of children’s television programming. Gone were the exaggerated clown costumes and slap shoes most on-screen talent in his profession hid behind when trying to relate to their target audience. Instead, a simple sweater, a vulnerable soul, and sound words spoken from the heart were all Rogers needed to win over children and parents alike. Morgan Neville’s farsighted documentary earns its PG-13 rating; parents looking to impart to their children the same feelings of warmth and relatability Fred Rogers instilled in them would be better off downloading one of the many available volumes of his work. (2018) — Scott Marks
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