For the Love of Spock

The documentary tells two stories together: how the character of Spock in Star Trek was built, and the life of Leonard Nimoy. The Vulcan salute, the ears, the tension between logic and feeling, and the character's passage beyond the series into the culture are all covered. Alongside it is the actor's own matter: being swallowed by the role, the book he wrote against it, and his reconciliation years later. Adam Nimoy directs. He is Leonard Nimoy's son. It began differently. Father and son had planned to make the project together; Leonard Nimoy died in 2015 and the documentary became a memorial. The family relationship is the most honest thing in it. Adam Nimoy speaks directly about the years they did not talk, about drinking, and about the process of closing the distance. Among those speaking are William Shatner, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Zachary Quinto and J. J. Abrams. It was financed by crowdfunding, and the contribution of fans is part of the story of its making. Its weakness is structure. It shifts constantly between the career and the family and the two never quite join; admiration also gets ahead of scrutiny. Who it is for: Star Trek viewers and anyone who likes documentaries about actors. Who it is not for: there is little entry point without an interest in the series, and the narrative never leaves the tone of admiration.