Review: Remembering Leonard Nimoy documentary

Remembering Leonard Nimoy, directed by Julie Nimoy and David Wright, is an up-close and personal look at the life of Leonard Nimoy. With insights from his doctors and his family, the film shares some of the most intimate moments of his life. While some reviews have said this is an anti-smoking film and focused too much on that, I disagree. While Nimoy did suffer from COPD caused by years of smoking, this documentary is about so much more than the last years of his life and what brought him to that point. There are personal stories about his career, about his relationships, and who he wanted to be as an actor, and, for the most part, they all come from his family, the ones who knew him best.

This shows a different side of Nimoy, one we, as fans, wouldn’t ordinarily get to see. It’s an invitation by his family to get to know the man who was a father, a husband, a grandfather, and even a great-grandfather. There are clips from his mother and father and even from Nimoy himself.

There is plenty of home movie footage and images from the many years of his life, including his determination to take care of his family while pursuing a career as an actor. And though the story does wind down to the heartbreaking moment when his family said goodbye to him, it is filled with the positive aspects of a life well-lived and well-loved. And in that well-lived life, there also came a time when Leonard Nimoy chose to share what was ending his with the world. In doing so, he encouraged people to quit smoking because he knew it would save lives. That, to me, is adding a healthy dose of honor to his legacy.

Remembering Leonard Nimoy is a documentary that will tug at your heartstrings and make you miss him even more than you have. It’s definitely a must-see, and you can watch it now on Amazon Prime.