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THE VISIT Send This Review to a Friend
A drama that epitomizes what's important about independent filmmaking, "The Visit" may not have the smoothness of big budget drama, but it has plenty of heart, strong performances and the sincerity that mere production money can't buy. Jordan Walker Pearlman wears the hats of producer, writer and director in this prison-based story about Alex Waters, whose incarceration is not confined to being behind bars. He is also imprisoned by his inability to come to terms with his past and his relationships--in short, his life.
The story is told mainly by means of sessions that Alex has--meetings with his prison psychiatrist (Phylicia Rashad), visits from his mother (Marla Gibbs), his strict and disappointed father (Billy Dee Williams) and his older brother (Obba Babatunde), who has made something of himself. Alex is played with intensity and depth by Hill Harper, known in particular for his television work in "City of Angels." The catalyst for change comes in the form of Rae Dawn Chong as Felicia, a childhood friend who has bounded back from a rough life and wants to have faith in Alex, who needs to have faith in himself. Always lurking is the knowledge that he has contracted AIDS.
The source material for the film is a play by Kosmond Russell, who based the drama on a true story involving him and his brother. What drives the film is the dedication and honesty that a viewer can feel motivated Walker-Pearlman, who undoubtedly transmitted the passion of making a film that has something to say about the human condition to the cast members, all of whom are excellent In addition to Harper's convincing performance, Marla Gibbs leaves a sharp mark as Alex's mother Lois. It is good to see Billy Dee Williams in a pivotal role as the father, and Chong is especially effective in her part. An Urbanworld Films release.
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