THE VISIT

Year: 2000
USA: Urbanworld Films
Cast: Hill Harper, Obba Babatunde, Rae Dawn Chong, Billy Dee Williams, Marla Gibbs, Phylicia Rashad, Talia Shire, David Clennon, Glynn Turman, Efrain Figueroa, Amy Stiller, Jascha Washington, Christopher Babers, Jennifer Nicole Freeman, Tim De Zarn
Director: Jordan Walker-Pearlman
Country: USA
USA: 123 mins
USA Rated: R for language and some drug content
USA Release Date: 20 April 2001 (Limited Release - wider)
USA Release Date: 15 December 2000 (Limited Release)


Synopsis

Based on a true story, the screenplay for THE VISIT was inspired by a stage play written by Kosmond Russell, which was based on his own relationship with his brother in an Ohio prison. The Visit is a timeless story of one man's search for understanding and redemption.

Alex Waters (Hill Harper) has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for rape: a crime which he insists he did not commit. He passes the time with dreams of escaping his cell and travelling on the trains that run past the prison walls. Alex's only solace is his regular session with the prison psychiatrist Dr. Coles (Phylicia Rashad), who strives to bring Alex to a greater level of awareness of himself and those around him.

As he grows to trust Dr. Coles, Alex begins to face his personal demons - fears that are further exacerbated by the encroaching effects of AIDS. To do so Alex must confront his fractured relationships with his successful older brother, Tony (Obba Babatunde), his loving mother, Lois (Marla Gibbs) and his domineering, unforgiving father, Henry (Billy Dee Williams).

With each visit with his family, Alex is finally able to envision a life based on love, compassion and forgiveness. When his childhood friend Felicia (Rae Dawn Chong) herself an incest survivor and recovering crack cocaine addict, reappears in his life, Alex charts a new course that changes forever the fate of those who love him and their memories of him.