Why Ramin Bahrani Chose to ‘Print the Legend’ of the Bulletproof Vest Inventor in ‘2nd Chance’

One of the chapter headings within Ramin Bahrani’s documentary “2nd Chance,” which profiles the eccentric and controversial inventor of the bulletproof vest Richard Davis, is “Print the Legend,” a line drawn from John Ford’s American classic “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.” Time and again in the film, Bahrani probes Davis for the truth, to own up to misgivings or inflated stories in his life, only to find him unwilling — or incapable — of admitting otherwise.

But rather than view Davis’ frequent stonewalling as a roadblock...