# Visit, The (2000/I)

### reviewed by
Laura Clifford

    THE VISIT
    ---------

Alex Waters (Hill Harper, "He Got Game") is in prison for 25 years for a rape he swears he didn't commit. As members of his estranged family visit him, he dreams of each relationship in a musical interlude. He also dreams of travelling on the trains which pass by the prison walls, gradually opens up to prison psychiatrist Dr. Coles (Phylicia Rashad, TV's "The Cosby Show"), and prepares for his first meeting with the parole board. As if Alex didn't have enough to cope with, he also must face AIDS in "The Visit."

    LAURA:

Adapted from Kosmond Russell's stage play by director Jordan Walker-Pearlman, "The Visit" is actually a series of visits, beginning with Alex's older brother Tony (Obba Babatunde, "Life") whom he hasn't seen in ten months. Alex demands that Tony get their parents to visit him and admonishes him for not bringing his family (although later their Dad turns the tables on Alex, when he's not able to name is niece and nephew). Alex dreams of disco dancing with Tony is his cell.

Next, Henry and Lois Waters (Billy Dee Williams, "Lady Sings the Blues" and Marla Gibbs of TV's "The Jeffersons") appear, both nervously twisting their wedding rings as they await Alex. Father and son clearly have serious issues, the stern Henry disapproving of Alex's lifestyle even before he was jailed. Motherlove is strong though and Alex dreams of dancing with his mother to "For All We Know."

Meetings with Dr. Cole are intriguing as the psychiatrist pushes Alex to confront himself. Rashad makes some interesting acting choices, putting a real spin on the tough-as-nails, but ultimately supportive doctor. Harper, as Alex, frequently recalls Denzel Washington's demeanor and delivery.

The film's strongest scene, however, comes when Alex's childhood friend Felicia (Rae Dawn Chong, "Commando") comes to visit, apologizing for not having spoken to him in twenty years. As a child, Alex witnessed the sexual abuse Felicia suffered at the hands of her father and her guilt made her unable to face Alex anymore. Now a born again Christian, Felicia begins to push many of Alex's buttons, challenging and angering him, before finally presenting her deep empathy with his past - she was a crack addict who sunk even lower than he, selling herself to support her habit and bearing a severely handicapped child. These three broken people form a family, inspiring all around them. Rae Dawn Chong delivers a powerhouse performance here that should garner strong Best Supporting Actress consideration.

Alex's parole board (Talia Shire, David Clennon, Glynn Turman, Efrain Figueroa and Amy Stiller) functions almost as a Greek chorus, asking Alex searching questions and debating the merits of Dr. Cole's recommendation behind closed doors.

"The Visit" features tight shots which frequently fade to black after snippets of conversation and jump cuts which make the film feel self-consciencely stylish. Lighting is anything but natural (as is evidenced when Alex refolds a positively glowing piece of tissue) and sound editting is a bit ragged. Some of the fantasy sequences play like a Hallmark Hall of Fame production, as does the overly sentimental ending. Yet the story works strongly when it does, aided by the terrific performances from Rae Dawn Chong and Phylicia Rashad.

    C+

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