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The Best of Enemies (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Best of Enemies (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 133 min · English
Echo score 53
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Directed by
Robin Bissell
Starring
Nicholas Logan, Perla Middleton, Nick Searcy, Wes Bentley, Bruce McGill, Babou Ceesay
Budget
$10M

During the volatile summer of 1971, Durham, North Carolina faced intense racial divisions. Ann Atwater, a passionate civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a Ku Klux Klan leader initially resistant to change, found themselves compelled to collaborate on a crucial desegregation initiative. Through their shared work, an unexpected bond developed, forcing both individuals to confront their beliefs and ultimately reshaping their personal journeys and impacting their community.

On this page (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (6)
  3. 3 Character relationship map
  4. 4 Where & when it takes place
  5. 5 Themes & meaning (3)
  6. 6 Character & meaning questions
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Movies like The Best of Enemies
  9. 9 Every angle
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6 main characters · contains spoilers

The Best of Enemies Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Best of Enemies (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson)

    A determined civil rights activist who fights for better housing for poor Black residents and equal treatment in schools. She confronts hostility with resolve, and she brokers dialogue between opposing sides. Her leadership highlights resilience, empathy, and the power of organized community action.

    • ✊ Activist
    • 🤝 Bridge-builder
    • 🏛️ Community leader
  • C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell)

    A white segregationist and KKK leader who resists integration at first but is forced to confront his beliefs. Through the round of charrettes, he faces the consequences of prejudice and begins to rethink his stance. His journey culminates in a transformative vote and a symbolic break with his racist past.

    • 🧭 Transformation
    • 🪪 Identity
    • 👨‍👦 Family man
  • Bill Riddick (Babou Ceesay)

    A Black community leader who facilitates the charrettes and pushes for cross-racial dialogue. He champions structured discussion, seating arrangements, and mutual accountability to move the group toward desegregation. His steady, pragmatic approach keeps the process focused on concrete outcomes.

    • 🕊️ Leader
    • 🤝 Facilitator
    • 🏛️ Community organizer
  • Mary Ellis (Anne Heche)

    C.P. Ellis's wife, whose support and relief reflect the personal stakes of the integration fight. She expresses gratitude for Ann's help and embodies the private side of a public struggle within a divided community.

    • ❤️ Wife
    • 🤝 Supportive
    • 🏡 Family allegiance
  • Lee Tromblay (John Gallagher Jr.)

    A participant in the charrettes who offers practical insight and acts as a moderating voice during heated discussions. He helps bridge gaps between more extreme positions and keeps the dialogue grounded.

    • 🗣️ Participant
    • 🧭 Voice of reason
  • Maddy Mays (Caitlin Mehner)

    A younger observer whose experiences during the events illuminate the impact of desegregation on families and students. She represents the next generation witnessing how communities choose change.

    • 🧒 Youth
    • 🧭 Witness
    • 🎓 Student

Last updated: October 23, 2026 at 23:30

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6 characters · 10 connections · contains spoilers

The Best of Enemies Character Relationship Map

Who is connected to whom in The Best of Enemies: family, love, friendships, rivalries and hidden ties, colour-coded. Pick a character to see their side of the story, or a connection to see what brings two characters together.

How much of the story to show
AAAnn AtwaterTaraji P. HensonCEC.P. EllisSam RockwellBRBill RiddickBabou CeesayMEMary EllisAnne HecheLLarryBBernadette

Last updated: October 23, 2026 at 23:30

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Setting

Where and When Does The Best of Enemies Take Place?

The setting of The Best of Enemies (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1971

The events unfold in 1971, a year marked by intense clashes over desegregation and equal housing in Durham. The atmosphere mixes fear, courage, and the possibility of change as residents confront long-standing prejudices. The time period provides a stage for a transformative community process.

Location

Durham, North Carolina

Durham is depicted as a mid-sized Southern city in the early 1970s, grappling with racial tensions and unequal housing. Public spaces, schools, and neighborhoods become arenas for heated debates and fragile negotiations. The setting underscores the real-world context of desegregation efforts and community organizing.

  • 🏙️ Southern city
  • 🧭 Civil rights era
  • 🏘️ Community hub

Last updated: October 23, 2026 at 23:30

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3 major themes

The Best of Enemies Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Best of Enemies (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Reconciliation

    The story centers on rebuilding trust between rival communities through dialogue and shared challenges. It shows how individuals from opposing sides can move from hostility to understanding when confronted with common humanity. The charrettes are used as a vehicle for empathy, while personal choices test loyalty. The narrative demonstrates that reconciliation requires courage, accountability, and a willingness to confront prejudice.

  • Desegregation

    Desegregation is the central issue around which events hinge. The final vote serves as a turning point that challenges entrenched power structures. The film examines how institutions, fear, and communal pressure influence decisions. The outcome shows that progress can come from unlikely alliances.

  • Courage & Change

    C.P. Ellis and Ann Atwater demonstrate personal courage by confronting deeply rooted prejudice. The characters push beyond comfortable stereotypes to find common ground. The film illustrates how individual acts of bravery can ripple through families, neighborhoods, and institutions. Change emerges when people choose to act, speak up, and hold themselves accountable.

Last updated: October 23, 2026 at 23:30

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Character & theme questions

The Best of Enemies Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Best of Enemies (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is The Best of Enemies set?

The movie takes place in Durham, North Carolina, a mid-sized Southern city depicted in the early 1970s. The setting shows a community grappling with racial tensions and unequal housing, where public spaces, schools, and neighborhoods become arenas for heated debates and fragile negotiations over desegregation.

  • durham north carolina
  • southern city
  • setting
  • 1970s
  • racial tensions
Q2

What year does The Best of Enemies take place?

The events unfold in 1971, a year marked by intense clashes over desegregation and equal housing in Durham. This time period provides the stage for a transformative community process, mixing fear, courage, and the possibility of change as residents confront long-standing prejudices.

  • 1971
  • time period
  • civil rights era
  • desegregation
  • history
Q3

Who is Ann Atwater in the movie?

Ann Atwater is a determined civil rights activist portrayed by Taraji P. Henson who fights for better housing for poor Black residents and equal treatment in schools. She confronts hostility with resolve and brokers dialogue between opposing sides, with her leadership highlighting resilience, empathy, and the power of organized community action.

  • ann atwater
  • civil rights activist
  • taraji henson
  • community leader
Q4

Who is C.P. Ellis in the movie?

C.P. Ellis is a white segregationist and KKK leader played by Sam Rockwell who initially resists integration but is forced to confront his beliefs through the charrette process. His journey involves facing the consequences of prejudice, rethinking his stance, and ultimately voting for desegregation in a symbolic break with his racist past.

  • c.p. ellis
  • ku klux klan
  • sam rockwell
  • segregationist
  • transformation
Q5

Who is Bill Riddick in the movie?

Bill Riddick is a Black community leader portrayed by Babou Ceesay who facilitates the charrettes and pushes for cross-racial dialogue. He champions structured discussion, seating arrangements, and mutual accountability to move the group toward desegregation, maintaining a steady, pragmatic approach that keeps the process focused on concrete outcomes.

  • bill riddick
  • facilitator
  • charrette
  • community leader
  • babou ceesay
Q6

What is the main theme of reconciliation in The Best of Enemies?

The story centers on rebuilding trust between rival communities through dialogue and shared challenges. It shows how individuals from opposing sides can move from hostility to understanding when confronted with common humanity, demonstrating that reconciliation requires courage, accountability, and a willingness to confront prejudice.

  • reconciliation
  • trust
  • dialogue
  • prejudice
  • community
Q7

What does The Best of Enemies say about courage and change?

The film illustrates how C.P. Ellis and Ann Atwater demonstrate personal courage by confronting deeply rooted prejudice. Individual acts of bravery ripple through families, neighborhoods, and institutions, showing that change emerges when people choose to act, speak up, and hold themselves accountable.

  • courage
  • change
  • personal growth
  • prejudice
  • transformation
Q8

How does The Best of Enemies portray desegregation?

Desegregation is the central issue around which events hinge, with the final vote serving as a turning point that challenges entrenched power structures. The film examines how institutions, fear, and communal pressure influence decisions, showing that progress can come from unlikely alliances.

  • desegregation
  • integration
  • school
  • housing
  • vote
  • community
Q9

What are charrettes in The Best of Enemies?

Charrettes are intensive community planning sessions used in the film as a vehicle for empathy and dialogue between opposing sides. These structured discussions bring together Klansmen and civil rights activists to negotiate solutions, with seating arrangements and mutual accountability designed to move the group toward desegregation.

  • charrette
  • community meeting
  • dialogue
  • negotiation
  • discussion
Q10

Who is Mary Ellis in The Best of Enemies?

Mary Ellis is C.P. Ellis's wife, portrayed by Anne Heche. Her support and relief reflect the personal stakes of the integration fight within a divided community. She expresses gratitude for Ann's help and embodies the private side of a public struggle.

  • mary ellis
  • anne heche
  • c.p. ellis wife
  • family
Q11

Who is Maddy Mays in The Best of Enemies?

Maddy Mays is a younger observer portrayed by Caitlin Mehner whose experiences during the events illuminate the impact of desegregation on families and students. She represents the next generation witnessing how communities choose change.

  • maddy mays
  • younger generation
  • observer
  • students
  • future
Q12

What is the relationship between Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis?

Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis begin as ideological opposites, a civil rights activist and a KKK leader. Through the charrette process, they develop an unexpected bond that forces both to confront their beliefs. Their collaboration on the desegregation initiative ultimately reshapes their personal journeys and creates a lasting friendship, though it comes at the cost of their standing in their respective communities.

  • ann atwater
  • c.p. ellis
  • relationship
  • friendship
  • transformation
  • unlikely alliance

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Best of Enemies, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Best of Enemies tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Unlikely Allies Forging Hope like in The Best of Enemies

Adversaries forced to cooperate find unexpected understanding and change. Discover movies similar to The Best of Enemies, where bitter enemies are compelled to work together, leading to profound personal transformations. If you liked the powerful dynamic between Atwater and Ellis, you'll appreciate these stories of adversarial collaboration and hard-won change.

  • transformative
  • tense
  • courageous
  • redemptive
  • dramatic
  • confrontational
  • Tone: confrontational, transformative, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives begin with intense conflict between characters from opposing sides of a deep divide. A shared goal or external circumstance forces them into collaboration. Through direct confrontation and shared challenges, their animosity gradually gives way to mutual respect and understanding, culminating in a bond that forever alters their worldview.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core narrative arc centered on the difficult but redemptive process of reconciliation. They typically feature a high-stakes, emotionally heavy atmosphere with steady pacing that allows the character transformation to feel earned, leading to a bittersweet but hopeful resolution.

Redemption Story Dramas like The Best of Enemies

Protagonists confront their own prejudice and seek a path to change. Find more films with powerful redemption arcs like The Best of Enemies. If you were moved by C.P. Ellis's transformation, explore these stories of characters facing their own prejudices and embarking on a difficult journey toward personal redemption and change.

  • redemption
  • transformative
  • introspective
  • dramatic
  • courageous
  • emotional
  • Tone: confrontational, heavy, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot centers on a character who holds strong, often harmful beliefs. Through a catalytic event or relationship, they are forced to see the world differently. The story follows their internal struggle as they grapple with cognitive dissonance, leading to a rejection of their past and a commitment to a new path, often at great personal cost.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their focus on a profound internal moral conflict. They share a heavy emotional weight, moderate narrative complexity, and a tone that evolves from dark tension to a sense of hard-won hope, driven by a steady pacing that makes the character's change feel authentic.

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Movies Like The Best of Enemies

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Every angle

The Best of Enemies (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Best of Enemies in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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