'Won't You Be My Neighbor?' Director Says Mister Rogers Needed Today

Five years ago, documentarian Morgan Neville won an Oscar for his film on backup singers, “20 Feet From Stardom.” Now he’s back with a documentary about “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” called “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” And it comes at a time when he says a voice like Fred Rogers is desperately needed in our society.

“It was the voice I needed to hear because it’s a voice I don’t hear in our culture anymore,” Neville told TheWrap’s Steve Pond at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. “It’s a voice of an empathetic adult who’s not condescending, who’s trusting. It’s all these things I find empty from our media culture, empty from our political culture, and it was really nothing more than that as a notion that there was a bigger story here.”

Also Read: 'Generation Wealth' Director on Why Kardashians, Trump Dominate Our Culture (Video)

Neville interviews several subject who knew Rogers at different times in his career, discussing his rise from a Presbyterian priest and lifelong Republican to an iconic image in the childhoods of millions of Americans. Rogers became known for using “Neighborhood” to address complex adult issues in ways that kids could understand, from death and divorce to the Kennedy Assassination. One episode even had a segment in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe where King Friday XIII decides to build a giant wall around his kingdom.

“He did this special the day after Bobby Kennedy was assassinated… He spontaneously said, ‘I need to do a show tomorrow to talk to adults to help them talk to kids, because this is something we’re all going through.'”

For more from Neville on how he told the story of Fred Rogers 15 years after his death, watch the video above.

Sundance 2018 #CelebSightings: Usher, Naomi Watts, Chloe Grace Moretz Cruise Around Park City (Photos)

After arriving in Park City to promote his film "Burden," the singer Usher said "Yeah!" to hitting up the scene.
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While everyone else was watching the NFL Championship games on Sunday night (Jan. 21), Usher shed his fur coat and indoor sunglasses to jump on the dance floor as Diplo spun at the "Skate Kitchen" party. The action went down at the DirecTV Lodge on Main St., festival sponsor AT&T's prime venue.
Dave Brewer
Elsewhere, Chloë Sevigny caused ripples in the opening days of the festival for her turn in the Lizzie Borden film, "Lizzie."

Also Read: ‘Lizzie’ Film Review: Chloë Sevigny Makes the Infamous Killer a Rebel With a Cause
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Jake Gyllenhaal arrived at the Eccles in an Acura MDX for the premiere of "Wildlife."

Also Read: ‘Wildlife’ Review: Paul Dano’s Directorial Debut Is an Austere Portrait of a Family in Crisis
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Jim Parsons is part of the all-star cast of "A Kid Like Jake." The parenting drama's ensemble includes Claire Danes, newly minted Oscar nominee Octavia Spencer, the terrifying Emmy winner from "The Handmaid's Tale" Ann Dowd, Amy Landecker, and...

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Priyanka Chopra.
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Naomi Watts found the secret to dry feet amid a flood of gray slush soaking Park City.

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Tom Felton brought the message of #TimesUp to high altitudes.
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Chloe Grace Moretz arrives in style while promoting her title role in the "Miseducation of Cameron Post." She plays a 1993 high schooler caught having sex with the prom queen, then forced into a gay conversion therapy center.

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Ethan Hawke, with two movies at the festival, still found time for a musical jam at the premiere party for "Blaze."

Also Read: ‘Juliet, Naked’ Review: Nick Hornby Adaptation Is a Rock ‘n’ Roll Charmer
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TheWrap's Party Report at Sundance is sponsored by Acura, the presenting sponsor of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Keep up with real-time images of the scene in Park City on @SundanceParties on Instagram.

The Party Report and this writer are not affiliated with nor endorsed by the Sundance Institute or the Sundance Film Festival.

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For more celebrity sightings at TheWrap's HQ inside the Acura Festival Village, click over here:

Also Read: Sundance Portraits From TheWrap at Acura Studios With Keira Knightley, Robert Pattinson and More (Photos)
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The Party Report rides shotgun with Priyanka Chopra, Jake Gyllenhaal, and more as a fleet of 100 Acura MDX luxury SUVs shuttles VIPs to screenings and parties

After arriving in Park City to promote his film "Burden," the singer Usher said "Yeah!" to hitting up the scene.

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Sundance 2018 #CelebSightings: Usher, Naomi Watts, Chloe Grace Moretz Cruise Around Park City (Photos)

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