Product Description

Studio: New Video Group Release Date: 04/27/2004 Run time: 191 minutes Rating: Nr

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47268 in DVD
• Brand: New Video
• Released on: 2004-04-27
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 191 minutes

Amazon.com
It came out of nowhere to win the best documentary Oscar in 1980, and by now Best Boy should be acknowledged as one of the finest documentaries in film history. Filmmaker Ira Wohl took as his subject his own cousin, 52-year-old Philly, a retarded man who had lived his entire life with his parents. Seeing the physical decline of the parents, Wohl suggested they prepare Philly for living away from home for the first time in his life. This process becomes a beautiful and soul-stirring (and even hilarious) experience, as the people in Philly's life become indelible characters. Many fiction films try to manufacture a kind of movie "magic" out of fantasy, but Best Boy finds it in tiny steps forward, the delicacy of family, and the joy of singing (you may never hear "If I Were a Rich Man" the same way again). Through it all, the irrepressible Philly emerges as a rich man in his own terms.

Twenty years after making Best Boy, Ira Wohl looked in again on his cousin Philly, now over 70 but still as sunny and fond of dessert as ever. Living in a home with other developmentally disabled people, Philly appears even more capable and content in the world. Wohl gets the idea to prepare Philly for his bar mitzvah--a little late in life, but nonetheless an important experience. Best Man doesn't have the deep emotional pull provided by Philly's parents from the first movie, although his loyal sister becomes an important figure in this one. But it's a very nice update on a memorable corner of the world. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Oscar winning documentary will change your life
This incredible two-disc set of the Oscar-winning "Best Boy" and its sequel, "Best Man", is already out in stores so I'm not sure why amazon has a late May release date. (I've seen copies at both Borders and Tower). In any case, in a world of great documentaries, few can top this powerful account of mentally challenged Philly Wohl, the director's cousin, as his aging parents try to get him on his feet before their deaths. If you can get through many of these scenes without crying -- Philly at his new day center watching a new girl friend dance with someone else as confusion falls over his face, Philly singing "If I Were a Rich Man" backstage with Zero Mostel, and, especially, Philly digesting news of his father's death -- then your heart is far more hardened than mine. This film (and its less known sequel, which catches up with Philly 20 years later) does what Hollywood can not with pathetic star vehicles like "Forrest Gump" and "Rainman": make you change the way you look at mentally challenged people and the ones who care for them forever. And, lest you think this sounds like a total downer, you'll be amazed how much you smile and fall in love with these people, as well. Don't miss this one and thank God for companies that Docurama that get these great long-out-of-print films back out there.

Wonderful true-to-life movie!
As a worker in the field of MRDD (mental retardation and developmental diabilities), I am always interested to see movies or documentaries about the people we serve. I was surprised to see this well-made film about such "real" people. No "poor retarded guy" schmooz, no extremely horrendous happenings, just a story about a man's life. Philly is a great guy with an exquisite, infectuous lust for life who had me laughing out loud! Yes, I was singing along to "If I were a Rich Man"! His down-to-earth, helpful, at times scared parents and sister mad me almost cry, because too often in our world of MRDD, our clients are alone, without family. Inspiring! Loving! Real!

A story about family, independence and tradition
Thank you Ira Wohl for this wonderful story of family, disability and the beauty of Judasim. Ira's production companty is called Only Child Productions, and these films show how much he wants the extended family and intense connection that he missed as an only child. He films his cousins Philly and Frances with love and respect, and they are utterly filmable with their non-selfconsciousness and goodness.

The answer to another reviewer's question is that the song Philly sings in "Best Boy" over the credits and with the psychiatrist is the Anniversary Waltzs (Oh, how we danced, on the night, we were wed...)

A wonderful film for anyone intersted in family, disability or Judaisim.