Best Man
NEW DOCS
Those of us who loved Ira Wohl’s Best Boy, especially Philly, the subject of that documentary Memoir, will be enthralled by the continuation of his story. The director’s intellectually disabled cousin, now 70 years old, has made substantial progress living in a group home, having replaced his deceased parents as anchors with his sister, Frances. To celebrate his “coming of age,” Philly is Bar Mitzvahed. The joy normally connected with the event is intensified by the poignancy of his disability. He radiates life’s hopes in this ritual and in the everyday—an airplane ride, dining with friends—and one is reminded how special the mundane can be. Philly, with his challenge, continues to touch all who share his achievements—his family, the members of the home, the director, and the viewer.
Director
Ira Wohl
Producer
Ira Wohl
Release Year
1997
Festival Year
1998
Run Time
90 minutes