Review of Visitors (2013) by Paul J — 05 Mar 2014
A mesmerizing exploration of humanity. Granted, you need to know what you're in for. There is no narrative and it's primarily faces looking. That said, I was transfixed throughout. It helps when you have one of the finest Phillip Glass scores ever.
From the primordial ape, to the trivial playing of games, to the deadness of the swamp, our human evolution is explored. The black-and-white images are stunning and the title of the film has two meanings.
On the one hand, the film takes an approach as if we're seeing humanity through the eyes of an alien (a visitor) looking at us as a species. But on the other hand, WE are the visitors because our time on this planet is so fleeting.
The way Reggio compares our beautiful planet with the desolation of the moon is profound. The absence of life on the moon is a reminder that perhaps one day our own planet will be as empty. It's a brilliant statement to not take our precious lives for granted.
We are in fact only visitors here for a short while.
This review of Visitors (2013) was written by Paul J on 05 Mar 2014.
Visitors has generally received mixed reviews.
Was this review helpful?
