‘The Visitor’

“Imagine contributing good 2 one person, place, or thing today- then do it. The creative life as a catalyst for changing the world. Consider.”
@charliepeaccok Twitter tweet 7/13/11

The problem with superlatives is they tend to undercut what you are writing or saying. Usually when I heard someone walk out of a concert or a movie and say something that starts with, “That was the best _____ I’ve ever seen…” my eyes tend to roll back in my head. Really? The thing that you just experienced 5 minutes ago eclipses every other experience in your life time?  So I tend to shy away from superlatives. But I will say of the movie The Visitor (that I watch recently) that it is the first Netflix movie that I watched three times before I sent it back. How’s that for an endorsement without saying it’s the best film I’ve seen in a long time?

The Visitor was released in 2007 and is the second film written and directed by Thomas McCarthy. It’s a film rich with textures and it wasn’t until I listened to the commentary by McCarthy that I realized one reason why the film is so well done. The lead actors are stunning; Richard Jenkins. Haaz Sleiman, Danai Guria, and Haim Abbass. But there is another layer to the cast that elevates it beyond the average picture. Remmeber that Spielberg quote about personally casting his own films as being 80% of directing? Well, McCarthy coming from the New York acting scene was able to tap into some well established Broadway actors who sometimes came in and played a bit part that may have only required a day to shoot.

Calling in favors like that shows the attention that McCarthy takes in crafting his stories. I sought out this film after seeing his movie Win-Win recently. The story and characters in The Vistor are fresh and in some ways McCarthy walks that line well of telling a story that is both contemporary and timeless.

Sensitive to using a superlative, I will say that I can’t remember the last time when I saw a movie and it inspired me to physically do something. In this transformational story, McCarthy uses a djembe (a West African) drum as an instrument of change. I was given a djembe years ago after I did a shoot in South Africa and became captivated by the rhythms of Africa. My intent had been to join a drum circle, but “the best laid plans of mice and men, sometimes go astray.” The years went by and my djembe made a nice decorative piece in my house.

Until I watched The Visitor.

Two nights ago I attended my first drum circle led by Ed East. A transplant to Iowa from Panama, and lead singer and percussionist with Orquesta Alto Maiz (The Salsa Band). Ed’s sound is more Latin than African, but for an hour there I was with virtually no musical training (or abilities) playing in a drum circle after  a few minutes of instructions. I’m not saying I was any good, but it was a blast. And, unlike a trombone, if you make a mistake in a drum circle your sins are covered.

Now maybe someday I’ll do a shoot in a far away land and be able to grab a drum a connect with people in a way that music has the power to do. Maybe someday I can even jam with Charlie Peaccock down in Nashville.

The Visitor may not lead you to a drum circle, but it will expose you to the rhythms of life and the heartbeat of the soul.

Bonus Music Tracks:

The Drum Song – Adjoa Skinner (and produced by Charlie Peacock)

Djembe Drum Lesson with Master Drummer: Lamin Jassey

Scott W. Smith