Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind

Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind is an intimate, stirring, and heartfelt documentary that shines the spotlight on the illustrious life of legendary Hollywood star, Natalie Wood. This critically acclaimed HBO documentary from 2020 was directed by Laurent Bouzereau, who was known for his successful work in documentaries. The film is a remarkable chronicle of Natalie's career, personal life and mysterious death, offering a more intimate and nuanced perspective than any tabloid could provide.

The story is narrated by the actress's daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, who makes it her mission to share her mother's narrative not as a tragic heroine, but as an accomplished actress, mother, and wife. While Wood's untimely death has frequently overshadowed her body of work, this documentary seeks to rectify this oversight by revering her on-screen prowess and her profound impact within her family.

Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind opens with a series of home movies showing the glamorous actress in her relaxed, casual moments, providing a stark contrast from the spotlight of fame she spent most of her time beneath. The camera follows her through birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and family vacations, giving viewers rare glimpses of her personal life, making her human and authentic. This opening sequence sets the touching, intimate tone of the documentary, a tone that continues throughout the film.

Throughout her career, Natalie Wood graced the screen with her radiant beauty and immense talent, starring in iconic films like Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story, and Splendor in the Grass. However, this documentary delves much deeper into Wood's life beyond her acclaimed acting roles. It explores her personal journey: her childhood laboring within the demanding Hollywood studio system, her poignant relationships, and her struggle for meaningful roles as an aging actress in Hollywood.

Natasha Gregson Wagner, Wood's daughter from her former husband Richard Gregson, acts not only as a narrator but also as the film's emotional center. She provides in-depth interviews with those who knew Wood well, including her sister Lana Wood, her widower Robert Wagner, and several friends and former co-workers. Some of the interviewees talk glowingly about Wood's generosity and warmth, others reflect on her prodigious acting talent, but all remember her fondly.

One of the most compelling aspects of Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind is its focus on Wood's family life. Through Natasha’s eyes, the audience is granted an unsentimental, yet affectionate view of her mother's offscreen character. Wood was a woman ahead of her time who chose motherhood over her coveted position as the queen of the silver screen, a woman deeply connected to her children even while managing a thriving career. Memories from her children poignantly reinforce her strength and love as a mother, revealing a different side of the Hollywood icon.

Yet, her tragic end is unavoidably a part of Natalie Wood’s story. She drowned in suspicious circumstances during a boating trip with her husband Robert Wagner and her Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken in 1981. The film tiptoes around the controversy, granting Wagner an opportunity to share his account of the fateful night, while trying not to sensationalize it. There is a moving scene where Natasha confronts Robert Wagner, whom she still calls "Daddy Wagner," about the tragic night. It shows her need for closure while maintaining respect for her mother’s legacy.

That being said, the true aim of Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind is evident from the title – it focuses on what Natalie left behind. Her unforgettable performances, the familial love she cultivated, and the trail she blazed for aging actresses in Hollywood. In a cinematic landscape often dominated by scandal and intrigue, this film emphasizes the human, emotional connections that persist even after death.

Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind is not just a tribute to a Hollywood legend, but the loving legacy of a daughter to her mother. Laurence Bouzereau, with Natasha Gregson Wagner, has created a poignant memoir that redefines Wood's narrative beyond the tragic headlines and serves as a beautiful tribute to her lasting contributions to Hollywood and her family. The film is simultaneously heartfelt, heartbreaking and uplifting - a must-see for fans of classic Hollywood and those interested in the stories of women carving space for themselves within the industry.