‘The Best of Enemies’ delivers a message much needed in today’s political climate

Posted on April 19, 2019

By MARK VIOLA

It seems in today’s world, debate is dead. People on both sides (of whatever controversy you would like to insert into this sentence) would rather yell at each other instead of talking. In some cases, it seems even allowing people on the other side to talk isn’t an option. Yelling might get you what you want in the end, but it rarely changes minds, and — not to get too Hallmark Channel — is even less likely to change any hearts.

But what if you did listen to the other side? And actually had a conversation? And bothered to learn about who those people are? Who knows what could happen? What a concept, right?

Well, that’s actually the premise behind “The Best of Enemies,” telling the true story of civil rights activist Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson, “What Men Want”) and Ku Klux Klan leader C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missiouri”). When the local African American elementary school in Durham, N.C., burns down, the question of school integration becomes a heated issue in the city.

Moderator Bill Riddick (Babou Ceesay, “Into the Badlands”) arrives in town to hold a charrette, a series of public meetings in which people from all walks of life are brought together to debate the issues and ultimately make a decision about the topic at hand, in this case, whether or not Durham’s schools should be integrated. In a surprise move, Riddick chooses Ann and C.P. to co-chair the charrette, something neither wants.

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