Best Boy (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Best Boy is a 1979 documentary made by Ira Wohl. The film achieved high critical acclaim, and won many awards including the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1979.

The film follows Ira's mentally handicapped cousin, Philly Wohl, who at that time was 52 years old and still living with his elderly parents. Ira forces his aunt and uncle to realise that they will not be around to care for Philly forever, and that they must start making preparations for when that time should come. Philly then begins to attend classes in New York City to learn how to take care of himself.

Philly's father, Max Wohl, dies during the course of the film. His mother, Pearl, died in 1980. Philly is now a septuagenerian, and he lives in a group home where he has learned to basically take care of himself.

A sequel entitled Best Man: 'Best Boy' and All of Us, 20 Years Later, was produced in 1997.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Scared Straight!
Academy Award for Documentary Feature
1979
Succeeded by
From Mao to Mozart