The Best of Enemies Review

Writer: Da'Zhane Johnson

Imagine a Civil rights activist and KKK president in the same room? In fact, imagine the two enemies holding a conversation and working together? This exact situation is what the new film, The Best of Enemies, is all about. The film follows the true story of Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis in the heart of Durham, North Carolina.

In 1971, the small town of Durham faced a challenge of school integration. Most citizens had opposing beliefs on the issue, so a ten-day meeting was established to find a resolution. Within the new film, the audience sees the ins and outs of this meeting, while following the lives of Atwater and Ellis.

Although the movie is a true story of history, the ideology seems to still be present today. As a society, we have seen several stories of hatred involving discrimination, whether with race, gender, sexual orientation, social class, or citizenship, in this year alone. The conversation on how to deal with hate and to convert someone’s hate into love is important no matter what era. It establishes a shift in the debate of righteousness and how we must react to hate.

During the screening in Atlanta, Taraji P. Henson, the actress who plays Atwater, addressed how the movie highlights a solution for hatred. “These are people looking for love, and they’re looking for a sense of belonging,” Henson continues, “love is the search for understanding.” This is how Atwater and Ellis were able to become such good friends. The idea of an understanding of love constructed a positive friendship between them.

So, if this method can work in 1971, why can’t it work in 2019? We have to find a balance between understanding and love. Our initial instinct is to defend not understand, but in order to combat hatred in the present, we may have to take some advice from Ann and C.P.