I was excited for The Visit. Michael Madsen directs a documentary that is science fiction at its core. A series of well researched interviews with real scientists, politicians and diplomats about the event that has not taken place: a visit from extra terrestrial beings.
It has its bright moments, which is a polite way to say that it’s flawed. It has a brilliant moment in which the cooperating forces of diplomatic advisors and military advisors find themselves at a crossroad. Diplomats want to avoid any interpretation of hostility from our side. Military however thinks there is the possibility that they might act hostile if but for a moment and because of that preparations must be made. It’s a confrontation that has resulted in a ton of movies where such an event happens.
The other one I found fascinating is scientific in nature. Our biochemistry, the one that regulates humans, animals, plants and all organisms in this planet was born out of an evolutionary battle against other biochemistry schemas that lost and therefore perished. What if their biochemistry is incompatible with ours? What if they are toxic to us or us toxic to them?
The big issue I took with the film was not the material but the rhythm and the storytelling through slow motion. I wish I could have been enthralled but the opposite happen, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. So, whether this says more about me than the movie I’m afraid I have to pass on a recommendation. There’s a few good moments in which the music fires up and I felt more engaged with the film but they were few and far between. It’s too bad, because the actual subject was intriguing.
That will do for now.
(Sources: Fantasia International Film Festival)
Never Think Impossible 