Ira Wohl's purpose in making the documentary was using it as a way to come to grips with the inevitable and convincing his aunt and uncle of that inevitability. Philly Wohl, 52 and mentally handicapped, was going to be without his parents soon enough and when that day came, he was going to need to be prepared. Wohl explains this in the documentary to his aunt and uncle, Pearl and Max, Philly's parents, who then agree to enroll Philly in classes for the mentally handicapped to prepare them for taking care of themselves as they grow older and no longer have caregivers around.
As we watch the film, we get to know all of the characters involved, especially Philly, and begin to feel a responsibility as if dealing with our own family member. There is an urgency to the documentary that is unlike most other films out there. With each passing minute of film, the viewer realizes that at any moment Philly could be alone. But it's not a scary feeling, rather, a compassionate one. Wohl makes sure his documentary isn't about inducing anxiety, but about giving Philly the gift of independence and giving his parents the peace of mind in knowing their son will be okay without them. And it is a film that happened just in time. Before the film was even completed, Max Wohl died and, within a year, so had Pearl.
Best Boy opened to rave reviews from film critics who saw in it a testament of familial love and devotion. It's not a movie exposing the inner workings of government, documenting an aspect of nature or detailing a grand historic event. It's a movie about one cousin realizing the importance of making sure another cousin could enjoy the independence necessary to live a happy, meaningful and fulfilling life after his parents were gone.
Best Boy won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1980 and Ira Wohl later followed up with Best Man, detailing Philly's later years in a group home, and Best Sister, detailing the life of Philly's sister, Frances, as she herself goes through the transformation of being a caregiver to being someone who herself needs care. It has been an important and personal journey for Wohl and his devotion to his subject shows he is not interested in awards or a grand career as a celebrated documentarian (though he is). It shows he is a compassionate soul who understands that we don't get a second chance to live our life and if we can make someone else's better in the process, it's a life worth living.
By Greg Ferrara
