When Superman Met Superwoman

Left without the use of her arms or legs after a car accident in 1990, Brooke M. Ellison 00 is the subject of the upcoming A&E television movie directed by the late Christopher Reeve and set to air on Oct. 25.

Shortly after her graduation from Harvard, Ellison said she and her mother, Jean Ellison, were approached by Reeve—the star of the Superman movie seriesto make a film based on Ellisons life.

[Christopher Reeve] wanted to do one movie about someone with paralysis and was very intrigued with me and my accomplishments, Ellison said.

Reeve, who was paralyzed from the neck down in 1995 after a horseback riding accident, died last Sunday, Oct. 10. Based on a memoir of the same name written after Ellisons graduation, The Brooke Ellison Story, starring Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Lacey Chabert, was Reeve's last project.

Originally the movie was supposed to be at the same time [as the book]. It was on and off for a while. Just recently, maybe last June or so, [Reeve] called again and said things were back on track and that he wanted to pursue it again, Ellison said.

A former Currier House resident, Ellison lived on campus and attended classes with her mother. She graduated magna cum laude and delivered one of the three student orations at Commencement.

Harvard could not have done much more than they did, said Ellison, commenting on the Universitys willingness to accommodate her and her mother. Of course there were limitations that [the administration] could not get around. The Houses by the river are almost impossible to make accessible by wheelchair.

Since her graduation, Ellison also has obtained a masters degree from the Kennedy School of Government and is currently working on her Ph.D. from Stony Brook University.

Ellison recalled Reeve as quite a storyteller. She said he was terrific, very open to talking about his own life and very down to earth.

Living my life with a physical disability is incredibly difficult. The day to day aspects of life are so difficult and to do much beyond that is hard to comprehend, Ellison said. [Reeve] was not only giving speeches, running his foundation, and [directing] this movie, he was also a father and a husband.

Ellison said she hopes that the upcoming movie conveys two messages: that life can be hard, and that people need each other.

More than anything is that life is full of real difficulties...We can decide to face them and be prepared for whatever comes after, she said.

People focus too much on themselves, and forget that we are really just a series of reciprocal relationships, Ellison added.

This is not the first time Ellison has drawn national attention for her accomplishmentsThe New York Times and USA Today have written about Ellison in the past. But she said that the film is different.

Its very strange to see your life portrayed in front of youmemories that you have preserved in your head, she said.

Representatives for Reeve and A&E could not be reached for this article over the weekend.