P.uò one black woman become friends with a racist to the core? Yes. And the unlikely, really happened story is at the heart of Best enemies with Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Hensonon the air tonight at 21.25 on Rai 1.
In the middle between comedy, drama and social cinemathe film is certainly an excellent lesson in civilization but, net of good intentions, it fails to avoid the pitfalls of rhetoric. Despite the excellent acting performance of Sam Rockwell, one of the most original and multifaceted interpreters of current American cinema.
Best enemies: the plot of the movie
Durham, 1971. Following thefire in an elementary school for children of color, the possibility of merging institutions is looming on the horizon black and white can finish the year together. However, not everyone agrees and he is called to resolve the issue an external broker who will organize a so-called “charrette”. That is a series of public meetings where the population will have the opportunity to discuss and vote.
Taraji P. Henson.
On opposite sides of the fence, leading the respective factions, there are Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson), African American activist always at the forefront of defending the rights of people of color, e CP Ellis (Sam Rockwell), president of the local Ku Klux Klan.
Forced to work side by side, albeit rivaling each other, CP will slowly discover and appreciate the human qualities of Atwater, recognizing himself less and less in the association he presides, and even more in those who populate it. Up to a moving and unexpected ending.
An excessively stereotyped film
Directed by rookie Robin Bissel, Best enemies it would seem almost an unlikely story if, in large letters, its authenticity was not emphasized. Professionally flawless in all departments, the film is yes bearer of a very noble message but in a package that is too sweetened and devoid of pathos.
Smooth and at times exciting, it fits perfectly into the recent strand of dramedies racially motivated – such as The right to count And Green Book – but relies on an excessively obvious script.
To embellish the whole package, however, there is the great interpretation of Sam Rockwell, as usual, he is very good at giving different layers to the classic figure of villain. A bit like it happened for the role of him in Three posters in Ebbing, Missouriwhich in 2018 gave him a Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Sam Rockwell with the Oscar won for “Three Billboards in Ebbing, Missouri”.
His CP Harris is a complex, tormented and fascinating protagonist; unlike his fellow Klan, all ugly and bad from the textbook as per the stereotype. And Ann Atwater, the revolutionary character played by, also lives on too many conventions Taraji P. Hensona woman that the star of the series Empire however, he fails to free himself from the traps of mannerism.
The true story of Ann and CP
As also told in the book, from which the film is based, The Best Of Enemies: Race And Redemption In The New Southafter the two weeks of acquaintance with Ann Atwater, CP Ellis left KKK tearing the card in front of his former companions and finishing ostracized by the entire white community. Thanks to the help of Ann and the black community, the man still manages to get back on his feet.
Aside from the commitment to education, the points of contact between Ann and CP have been multiple, including childhood in poverty. At the funeral of CP, who died in 2005 of a neurodegenerative disease, it was Anna who said the funeral oration of CP. Also in a documentary entitled An Unlikely FriendshipAnn’s niece said she always has considered the man as an uncle, and to still maintain contact with his family and heirs.
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