The Visit (2000)

"The Visit" (2000) is a prison drama movie written and directed by Jordan Walker-Pearlman, which he adapted from Kosmond Russell's play. The film first appeared at the second annual Method Fest, dedicated to independent films, and features an incredible cast, including Hill Harper, Obba Babatundé, Phylicia Rashad, Billy Dee Williams, Marla Gibbs, and Rae Dong Chong.

Many prison films are cliche with the same formula of violence, confrontations, authoritative abuse, etc. "The Visit" steers away from those cliches and relies entirely on acting and emotions to drive the message. Hill Harper plays Alex, a convicted felon accused of a brutal rape. At some point, Alex contracted HIV and is now dying of AIDS. With life looking bleak, his brother (Obba Babatundé) visits him, and now Alex will attempt to reconcile relationships with his self-made father (Billy Dee Williams) and his mother (Marla Gibbs).

This movie does a great job of keeping your attention and touching your emotions in different areas. Most of the scenes are mainly in prison visiting rooms with several flashbacks within the story. I highly recommend it for viewing.

Director: Jordan Walker-Pearlman

Writers: Kosmond Russell, Jordan Walker-Pearlman

Starring Hill Harper, Obba Babatundé, Phylicia Rashad, Billy Dee Williams, Marla Gibbs, Rae Dong Chong, Tim DeZarn, Jennifer Freeman, Jascha Washington

Storyline

Alex Waters (Hill Harper) has been convicted of rape and sentenced to 25 years in prison, although he maintains he is innocent. Alex is up for parole, dying of AIDS, and seeking redemption. As a psychiatrist (Phylicia Rashad) helps him reconcile with his past, he receives visits from the essential figures in his life: his older brother (Obba Babatunde), his authoritarian father (Billy Dee Williams) and his loving mother (Marla Gibbs). As he works past his anger, Alex evolves into a new man.

The Old Settler (2001, TV Movie)

"The Old Settler" (2001) is a made-for-television drama aired on PBS. Debbie Allen directed the movie, and Shauneille Perry wrote the screenplay. The film is an adaptation of John Henry Redwood's 1998 play under the same title. Allen stars in a film with her sister Phylicia Rashad for the first time. They worked together previously in the films "Polly" and "Polly Comin' Home," but Allen only directed while Rashad starred in the film. Allen and Rashad's natural sisterly bond provided excellent chemistry for their characters, mainly because the film's premises involved the relationship between the two sisters. 

In the film, an 'old settler' means a woman approaching 40, unmarried, with no prospects. Elizabeth (Rashad) is the landlord of a young man from the South who came to Harlem searching for a beloved (Crystal Fox) that ran off. However, Husband (Bumper Robinson) begins to court Elizabeth, and the relationship between them evolves much to the disagreement of Elizabeth's sister Quilly (Allen).

Historically, PBS televised stageplays and films adapted from novels. "The Old Settler" is similar to some of the plays aired in the 1970s. A film between a mother and daughter called "Sty of the Blind Pig" (1974) has a familiar sentiment as "The Old Settler." Both plays examine the life positions of middle-aged black women who try to find love in their life before their window of opportunities declines further. The films are genuine in their attempts to convey their messages, and the actors do an excellent job capturing your attention.

"The Old Settler" is a masterclass in acting and storytelling. It's a worthy film to explore, with many layers to analyze. I recommend this movie for viewing.

Director: Debbie Allen

Writer: Shauneille Perry

Starring Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen, Bumper Robinson, Crystal Fox, Bebe Drake, Ella Joyce, Paul Mooney, Randy J. Goodwin, Steven Smith, Michael Ralph, Steven Smith

Storyline

Quilly (Allen) has separated from her husband and has moved in with her unwed sister Elizabeth (Rashad), an "old settler." Quilly is dismayed that her sister has rented a room in their apartment to a handsome young man named Husband Witherspoon (Bumper Robinson), who has traveled from South Carolina in search of his sweetheart Lou Bessie (Crystal Fox). Unable to fit into Lou's fast-paced lifestyle, he courts Elizabeth, who is much older, causing tension between the two sisters.