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We live in a politically charged time—a time when the line has been drawn in the sand, and the two warring sides seem to be getting farther and farther apart. And that makes it the perfect time to release a drama like The Best of Enemies, which tells the story of a time when political enemies were forced to sit down and talk.
The Best of Enemies takes place in Durham, North Carolina, in 1971. When one of the local schools burns down, it forces a discussion about school integration—a discussion that quickly turns heated. The city agrees to bring the people of Durham together to decide how to handle the situation. Over two weeks of meetings and negotiation, local activist Ann Atwater (Taraji P.Henson) and Klan leader C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell) stand on opposite ends of the debate. Yet as they’re forced to work together as co-chairs, they begin to realize that they may be more alike than they once thought.
Even if you don’t already know the rest of the story, it’s not hard to guess where the film is headed. But that doesn’t necessarily make the story any less remarkable. If it weren’t a Hollywood production, you might expect the whole process to be doomed from the start—the meetings spiraling into the usual anger and hatred. And there are often times when it all feels just a little too easy. There are certainly hints of the arguments that must have taken place, though those are quickly brushed aside, the focus given to the two main characters and their challenges.
Fortunately, though, these characters are definitely strong. From the first scene, audiences will fall in love with Henson’s Ann—with her fire and her passion and her refusal to back down from any challenge. Henson puts her heart and soul into the performance, and that fire is infectious.
C.P., meanwhile, is definitely a more difficult character—and parts of his story will give you a punch in the gut when you least expect it. This man who can be so vile and hateful toward his neighbors can close a Klan meeting in prayer. He can threaten and torment, yet he tenderly cares for his son.
Really, though, that’s what makes this film stand out. It tells the story from a different perspective, giving the characters more depth, more gray areas. Of course, that’s not the case for all of the characters, but it does show that it’s possible to change hearts and minds with a little bit of talk and a little bit of kindness.
The Best of Enemies may have its flaws, but it’s a moving and timely drama about getting beyond our differences to see our similarities. If more stories could play out like this one, the world would definitely be a much better place.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
