Best Man

This documentary is a sequel to the 1980 Oscar-winning Best Boy, in which filmmaker Ira Wohl followed his mentally retarded cousin Philip (Philly) Wohl in the transition from a secure but cloistered life with his elderly parents to more activity and independence in a group home. Best Man lacks the drama of its predecessor, but in its quiet way it is equally moving, a testament to the values of family, religion, and the simple joy that Philly, now 69, takes in life, from his coffee addiction to his first airplane flight and, at the film's conclusion, his bar mitzvah. But the film isn't just about Philly. His older sister Frances, a widow, reveals how intensely she misses her husband Norman, and how she regrets not pursuing a singing career, but she is wonderfully supportive of her younger brother (in an extremely affecting scene, she and Philly sing a duet of "Sunrise, Sunset," from Fiddler On The Roof). As the film ends with post-bar mitzvah family festivities, Philly dances, mugs, sings, eats. "In the past, when people have asked me how Philly is doing," Ira Wohl concludes, "I've often joked that we should all have as full and happy a life as he does. Here today, I can see how true those words really are. Clearly, Philly is loved by many, yet just as clearly, their lives are enriched by his unique spirit. I feel lucky to count myself among them." So should viewers of this uplifting film. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: J, H, C, P. (M. Pendergrast)