The Visitor

An aging writer has taken a house near Sydney's Tamarama Beach and is trying to write a novel while trying to put the impending death of an ex lover from his mind. Outside his house several attractive young surfers appear to check out the surf and to change. At first he is annoyed and then intrigued by the attractive young men.

When one of the surfers remains behind the old man encounters him several times during the day and is then surprised to find that the young man has let himself into the older man's house.

Having the young man splayed on his sofa he is uncertain as to whether he should be afraid or enthralled.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable short and the thoughts of the main character was wonderful to read on his face, but I would have enjoyed it more if we had spent more time learning the back story of all of the characters and less time reaching a somewhat hackneyed conclusion.

maybe, for its ambiguity. for inspired music. for the meet with past for a part of public. a second chance. almost magic. and the expected end. because the past remains, always, in its precise limits. the story of Michael, bitter, special, painful, is the most important ingredient of the universal story about death, regrets, illusion and dreams. sure, it could be the film of a fantasy. or it reminds "Death at Venice" by Luchino Visconti, sure, at different level and with other tools. but the essence is the same. and this does !The Visit" more than a beautiful film. maybe, a kind of experience. as antidote for regrets. as modern fairy tale. or, only, as one of films who puts front to use ourselves..

From the moment the film opened I was drawn in to the story of Michael. His internal pain over his past love was evident, and it begged for the empathy that few of us can give unless we have similar histories.

The young surfer, in almost a mystical way, provides Michael a way to re-live his younger love and bittersweet romance, which provides us with a beautiful story that is very touching.

The acting was superb and the cinematography incredible and critical toward telling this story. The musical score complimented the beauty of Australia's beaches. This was a movie that touched me deeply, and I will remember it and recommend it to friends.