The Best of Enemies 2019
"Change is worth fighting for"
In the sweltering summer of 1971, Durham, North Carolina, becomes the unlikely battleground for one of America's most transformative civil rights stories.
Director: Robin Bissell
Cast
Taraji P. Henson
Ann Atwater
Sam Rockwell
Claiborne Paul Ellis
Babou Ceesay
Bill Riddick
Anne Heche
Mary Ellis
Wes Bentley
Floyd Kelly
Nick Searcy
Garland Keith
Bruce McGill
Carvie Oldham
John Gallagher Jr.
Lee Trombley
Nicholas Logan
Wiley Yates
Gilbert Glenn Brown
Howard Clement
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Best of Enemies (2019) about?
The film chronicles a pivotal 1971 community summit in Durham, North Carolina, where civil rights activist Ann Atwater and Ku Klux Klan leader C.P. Ellis are forced to co-chair a heated debate over school desegregation. Their combative dynamic evolves into a profound friendship, reshaping the town's future and their own lives.
Who directed The Best of Enemies?
Robin Bissell directed the film, bringing a nuanced perspective to this historical drama rooted in real events.
Who stars in The Best of Enemies?
Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell headline the cast, delivering powerhouse performances as Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis, respectively.
Is The Best of Enemies (2019) worth watching?
If you're drawn to historical dramas with emotional depth and strong performances, *The Best of Enemies (2019)* is absolutely worth your time. Its themes of reconciliation and social progress remain strikingly relevant, making it both a compelling watch and a thought-provoking experience.
How long is The Best of Enemies?
The Best of Enemies runs for 133 minutes, offering a tightly paced yet immersive journey through its historic narrative.
🎥 Trailer
About The Best of Enemies (2019) — The True Story of a Civil Rights Revolution in Durham
In the sweltering summer of 1971, Durham, North Carolina, becomes the unlikely battleground for one of America's most transformative civil rights stories. *The Best of Enemies (2019)*, directed by Robin Bissell, plunges us into a charged confrontation between Ann Atwater, a fiery civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a Ku Klux Klan leader dragged—kicking and screaming—into a high-stakes community summit. As the two grapple with the explosive issue of school desegregation, their clash of ideologies slowly gives way to an unexpected, deeply human connection that challenges every preconceived notion. This gripping drama blends history with raw emotion, painting a portrait of a fractured nation on the cusp of change.
Bissell's meticulously crafted film balances the tension of the era with intimate, character-driven storytelling, anchored by powerhouse performances from Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell. The story unfolds like a powder keg, where anger and prejudice collide with hope and resilience. By the film's end, the question isn't just whether change is possible—it's whether it's worth the fight. With themes that resonate as powerfully today as they did in the 1970s, *The Best of Enemies (2019)* is a testament to the idea that even the most hardened hearts can soften when faced with empathy.
