Tiffany Scott
Executive Business Manager
“The Best of Enemies” impresses audiences with a surprisingly entertaining storyline while also addressing civil rights issues.
The film was both directed and written by Robin Bissell. Produced by Material Pictures, the movie was released to theaters nationwide on April 5. The movie is an adaptation of Osha Gray Davidson’s book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South, which covers the desegregation process of the school district in Durham, North Carolina in 1971.
The story focuses on two leaders on opposite sides of the dilemma. Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson) is the leader of the civil rights activist group, Operation Breakthrough, and C.P Ellis (Sam Rockwell) is the president of the Ku Klux Klan in Durham. After a fire erupts in one of the town’s black schools, the topic of school segregation is ignited. The court, in an attempt to avoid making a difficult decision, calls for a charette in hopes that the community will come together and solve the issue on their own.
The fascinating story is backed up with solid, compelling performances by Henson and Rockwell. Both Henson and Rockwell are ideal for their roles, both generate fantastic depth to their characters and complement the charisma of the real-life Ellis and Atwater, who are featured briefly in file clips over the closing credits.
The way Henson walks as Atwater, with her back hunched over and hitching her hips along as she moves, provides a sense of realism that contributes to her exceptional portrayal. In one scene, she reprimands a few young black boys for tearing down a KKK hood on display, and then straightens it herself after shooing them away. The expression in her eyes speaks volumes about what she has seen.
Despite his exceptional acting, Rockwell’s C.P Ellis has a story arc that is too dramatic and very predictable. However, in more tender scenes such as ones he shares with his disabled son Ellis, he portrays a softer side to him. The charette also provides a wide range of personalities representing the debate from various perspectives and intensities, which is a refreshing break from other typical Hollywood narratives about racial reconciliation.
“The Best of Enemies” may not rank with the best of the civil rights era films, but does an excellent job of digging into human frailties that, when breached, can help us resolve our differences. The film provides a lesson in empathy—listening and understanding your enemies whether it be political or personal. The charette didn’t profoundly end racism but was a significant victory for school integration, an important step towards the final goal.
For a film lecturing about the utility of a charette and a civics lesson in grassroots democracy, it does a great job at remaining enjoyable. For those looking for two hours of pure entertainment and a refreshing break from other typical Hollywood narratives about racial reconciliation, “The Best of Enemies” is the perfect film.
“The Best of Enemies” is rated PG-13 and is playing in theaters worldwide.
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