We were all stunned when we lost Robin Williams weren't we. It was genuinely shocking. Depression we thought. The sad clown. Well maybe in part, but only a small part, by no means the whole story. Williams committed suicide at 63 in 2014. Why? the world wondered. He was brilliant, talented, loved, what a waste. He had battled addiction, everyone jumped to conclusions. All of which were and are wrong. This documentary seeks to find some truth, some reason. That truth lies in the post-mortem diagnosis of Diffuse Lewy Body Dementia. A little known disease that effects the brain and the body. A bit like Parkinson's. Give something a name and you can build from there. That's what this film does, painting a picture of a devastating disease that moves fast, is incurable and always fatal... and he had no idea he had it. I think that makes it worse, if he'd have known, maybe he'd have found some peace, understanding what was causing his anxiety, paranoia, memory loss, confusion... but who can truly know. Much of this is made up of interviews with friends and neighbours, people he lived with. Despite being a global star, he lived a pretty humble life. Nice house, nice neighbourhood, but he wasn't hidden away. The other side, is specialists explaining how this disease works and how it would've effected Robin. What it did to his confidence, caused him to withdraw slowly. Good days and bad, the bad slowly outnumbering the good. Mercifully there's a lot of history too, an overview of how he came up. It's a pleasure to relive such an energetic career. Seeing that alongside explanations of how his brain was unwiring and the dementia it caused though is very sad. In many ways this jumps between the good and the bad, the way he might have. His relationship with his wife Susan, his friendship with Christopher Reeves, but lots of science too, overview stuff, but giving you a sense of what was happening. It's a tough watch. There's no happy ending. There's a little more understanding though. RIP Robin x

When making a documentary about Robin Williams, it is so easy for the proceedings to turn into little more of a "greatest hits" compilation, so to speak. Cut together some of his best film scenes, talk show appearances, and stand up routines, and that doc would get a 7/10 rating form me in perpetuity. But in order to add something original to the coverage of Williams' life, an outside-the-box topic must be picked and stuck to. That is exactly what "Robin's Wish" does and is ultimately a great doc because of it.

"Robin's Wish" is very focused on the final few months of Robin's life--where he was clearly in an odd mental decline--and then the post-death diagnosis of Lewy body dementia. Largely shepherded by his final wife Susan, the record gets set straight here that Williams did not die of depression or drug use. He had a medical condition that quite literally attacked his brain.

Though incredibly well put-together, this doc is often very difficult to watch, what with the knowledge now that Williams was struggling with a disease he never fully understood in life. For a man in which a quick brain was his stock-and-trade, it must have been devastating to be stripped out that and not understand why.

About the only reason I can't give "Robin's Wish" the full 10/10 ranking is because it lacks input from many of his closest family members. Unfortunately, I believe this is because Susan Williams is not looked upon fondly by certain family members and a division exists there. That being said, there are no sour grapes aired out here. It more just a "conspicuous absence" sort of deal.

Overall, though, this is a top-notch look at the last days of Robin Williams' life, and the type of legacy the diagnose of Lewy body disease may have on his future legacy. Though incredibly sad in spots, it is also inspiring in that Robin's robust life legacy can be used to help others battling similar brain ailments.

I don't usually write movie reviews. Absolutely loved it, never heard of Lewy Body Dementia . What a devastating disease, my dad died from alzimers so I can relate. Really explains what Robin his family and close friends went through. Puts to rest all the rumors the media spread. I actually met him once on his way to an event and he stopped took pictures and talked with everyone that asked. So yes he was really the guy you saw.