”For the Love of Spock” by Adam Nimoy

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Adam Limoy’s moving documentary about his father, actor Leonard Nimoy, is as much about Adam as it is about Leonard. And this is by no means a bad thing. It offers the audience a rare glimpse into the lesser-known, messier aspects of Leonard Nimoy’s life. It reminds us that the man underneath the Vulcan makeup was still a human being with flaws.

Our society frowns on speaking ill of the dead, and this is what makes “For the Love of Spock” a more honest tribute documentary than most. In the director’s chair, Adam Nimoy could have easily glossed over some of the unflattering aspects of his father’s life, such as his struggle with alcoholism or the sometimes strained relationship between father and son. Instead, he discusses those problems at length. And it has the opposite effect of what one might expect.

Rather than eliciting judgment in the audience’s eyes, these messy stories allow us to see Leonard Nimoy as a whole person, not just a postmortem fantasy. It makes us appreciate the positive moments even more — and there are plenty of them.

We see Leonard Nimoy staunchly defending diversity on the Star Trek set. We see him fully immerse himself in every role he plays, whether a minor role in a B movie or the leading role in a major Broadway production. And we see his endless work ethic and passion for the arts.

In short, we witness a true Renaissance man. He was a skilled actor, a photographer, a director, a writer and a musician, to name just a few of his many passions. In fact, the film’s only flaw is that it can’t compress a life as complex and fascinating as Nimoy’s into just under two hours. You’ll walk away from the film wanting to learn even more about his life and his art.

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Originally, Adam Nimoy wanted to make the film about his father’s complicated relationship with his most famous character, Spock, and how the role forever changed the path of his life. We learn that in the beginning, Leonard Nimoy was very unlike the character he played on television. However, as he worked on the Star Trek set, Nimoy became more and more like Spock. Eventually, he even stayed in character outside of the set. As a result, he became more reserved and calculating in his personal life.

Yet the film reminds us that both Nimoy and Spock had deeper personality traits. Both were dignified, and both had a deep sense of respect and love for the people around them. Their lives intersected and mingled in unexpected ways. After watching “For the Love of Spock,” you realize that you simply can’t talk about Leonard Nimoy’s life without talking about the famous character he played. So much of Nimoy is in Spock’s understated emotions, and vice versa.

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When Leonard Nimoy died in 2015, Adam had nearly completed his film. But in the wake of his father’s death, he changed the scope of the documentary. He moved away from a parallel of Spock and Leonard’s lives into a touching tribute to the late actor. In the later version, Nimoy’s fellow Star Trek cast members, family and friends talk about the heartache that followed his death and how he forever changed their lives. By far the most heartbreaking of these scenes is Adam Nimoy’s interview with Leonard’s brother, who breaks down in tears when he remembers his brother’s last moments.

In the end, we get to see the ripples that Leonard Nimoy created. By giving Spock a cool intelligence, Nimoy influenced future scientists like physicist Don Lincoln, who says Spock inspired him to choose a science career. With Spock’s dignity, Nimoy taught young social outcasts that there’s beauty in being yourself, even if you look different from your peers. Finally, Nimoy’s personal life taught everyone around him what it means to be a true mensch, someone who puts honor and integrity above all else.