The Best of Enemies

The True Story Behind The Best of Enemies: Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell on a Civil Rights Drama That Still Stings

Robin Bissell’s The Best of Enemies (2019) isn’t just another historical drama—it’s a powder keg of racial tension, unexpected alliances, and real-life stakes that left its cast and crew grappling with the weight of its story. Starring Taraji P. Henson as civil rights activist Ann Atwater and Sam Rockwell as Ku Klux Klan leader C.P. Ellis, the film dramatizes the 1971 Durham, North Carolina, charrette that forced two polar opposites into a room to desegregate public schools. The behind-the-scenes buzz suggests the project was as emotionally charged as the events it depicts.

A Script That Hit Too Close to Home

Bissell, making his directorial debut, adapted the screenplay from Osha Gray Davidson’s 1996 book The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South. The material wasn’t just historical—it was raw. In interviews, Henson and Rockwell revealed how the story’s relevance to modern racial divides made filming feel urgent, even painful. Henson, in particular, has spoken about the emotional toll of portraying Atwater, a woman whose fight for equality mirrored struggles still unfolding today ^[4][5]. Rockwell, meanwhile, described the challenge of humanizing Ellis, a man whose hate was rooted in fear and indoctrination. "You have to find the cracks in his armor," he said, hinting at the nuanced performance that earned early praise ^[4].

The film’s production wasn’t without controversy. Some critics questioned whether a white director (Bissell) should helm a story centered on Black trauma, a debate that spilled into early press coverage. Bissell defended his approach, emphasizing collaboration with Henson and the film’s Black producers, but the conversation underscored the sensitivity of the material ^[7].

On-Set Tension and Unexpected Chemistry

Despite the heavy subject matter, the cast found moments of levity. Henson and Rockwell’s off-screen rapport became a talking point, with both actors joking about their characters’ unlikely friendship. In a Good Morning America interview, they playfully ribbed each other over who had the harder role—Henson as the fiery activist or Rockwell as the conflicted Klansman ^[4]. Behind the scenes, the dynamic was reportedly more harmonious than the film’s explosive premise suggested.

Still, the weight of the story lingered. Henson revealed that she cried between takes, overwhelmed by the parallels between Atwater’s era and contemporary racial injustice ^[5]. Rockwell, too, admitted to feeling the pressure of portraying a figure as reviled as Ellis, though he avoided glorifying his character’s beliefs. The film’s marketing leaned into this tension, with trailers emphasizing the "unlikely friendship" angle while acknowledging the brutality of the era ^[6][10].

Mixed Reception and the Burden of History

When The Best of Enemies premiered, critics were divided. Some praised its performances, particularly Henson’s, and its timely message about bridging divides ^[9]. Others argued the film softened the harsh realities of racism for a more palatable Hollywood ending. The movie holds a 53% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with audience reactions slightly warmer at 89%—a split that reflects the difficulty of balancing historical accuracy with dramatic storytelling .

The film’s modest box office performance ($13 million worldwide against a $10 million budget) suggested it struggled to find a wide audience, but its themes resonated in discussions about race and reconciliation. Henson, in interviews, has called the project a "labor of love," one that forced her to confront uncomfortable truths about America’s past—and present ^[5].

Why the Story Still Matters

The Best of Enemies wasn’t just a period piece; it was a mirror. The film’s release in 2019 coincided with a resurgence of racial justice movements, making its message feel eerily prescient. In a review, one critic noted that the movie "doesn’t just rehash history—it forces you to ask how far we’ve really come" ^[9]. For Henson, the role was personal. She’s spoken about how Atwater’s story reminded her of her own mother’s struggles as a Black woman in the South, adding another layer of emotional investment to the project ^[5].

Whether the film succeeds as drama or history lesson may depend on who’s watching. But one thing is clear: the cast and crew didn’t treat it as just another job. It was a reckoning.