Directed by filmmaker Mathews Silva and screenplay by Luís Beires, The Visit is one of those films that surprises at every scene. With an air of suspense and revelations that emerge every minute, the plot was created especially to play the hardest of all hearts.
In the idyllic setting of a remote house, immersed in the serenity of nature, Mabel, played by Cris Bonna, is a cheerful elderly woman who eagerly awaits the arrival of her son, as a promise of new horizons in the city. What she didn't expect, and neither did the spectator, is the arrival of Teresa, a character embodied by the young actress Ágata Boni, a photographer who ends up showing up and becomes Mabel's guest.
What could initially be a mere chance encounter between strangers unfolds into an emotional journey where the two women meet, recognize each other, and connect on levels that transcend social conventions.
The beauty of The Visit lies in the way in which Mathews Silva captures the essence of human connection, highlighting people's ability to meet and understand each other, even under unexpected circumstances. As the two women share their stories, their pain, and their joys, a web of empathy forms between them, weaving a bond of rebirth through the experience and the internal and external expectations of each of them. It is a celebration of humanity in its purest and simplest form, where differences dissipate in the face of mutual understanding and genuine care.
Ultimately, The Visit is about love, friendship, and the beauty of the human journey. In the end, we are reminded that, although fate may lead us down unexpected paths, the true treasure lies in the journey shared with those who cross our path.
In an interview with Complete Magazine, Director Mathews Silva and actress Ágata Boni told us a little more about the creative process and construction of the film.
CM: How was the idea for the movie born? What were the first steps to remove it from the imagination and bring it to reality?
MS: The idea for the movie came from an insight I had at Uber. Oddly enough I have a lot of insights that were born inside Ubers. The original idea for the movie came from there. Soon after, I passed it into the hands of Luís Beires, who is the screenwriter of the movie “The Visit”.
We had other contributions together, myself as director and Luís as screenwriter in the films “Passos”, “Jasmine”, “Astoria” and “Requiem”.
The first steps after the original idea while the screenwriter was evolving the script was to go after the cast, I needed to see who would be Mabel and who would be Teresa. I had the pleasure of being able to work to direct Cris Bona and Boni. And the first steps were really defining the cast, because we already had the location.
CM: The plot dynamic carries a lot of suspense, which unfolds in an affective plot. How do you think the viewer will capture the main message conveyed in the film?
MS: In my movies I usually deliver the main theme of the movie in the third act, which is where the final revelation of the film is found. My duty as director is to provide an experience with a message at the end for the viewer, and if that message is received, if it works and is meaningful, I feel my duty has been fulfilled. I can't deliver the whole message right off the bat because of the genre itself, which is suspense, because certain revelations in the movie deliver the plot of the movie and need to be presented at the right time.
I am a firm believer in the construction of defining and revealing the message in the third act and that is what I seek to do with my direction. I can only anticipate that it's a story of great affection, it's a story about love and a bit of mystery remains there to avoid spoiling any spoilers for the movie.
CM: When we stopped to analyze the independent film market in Brazil and the current challenges it presents, what would be the main cultural and political movements that we could have as a collective to transform it?
MS: Thinking about the Brazilian independent film market, I believe that what we need most is more incentive and investment, so that producers, directors, and screenwriters can enter the market and begin to bring new stories to life through different cinematographic visions.
About the Director...
Mathews Silva, a talented filmmaker, graduated in advertising from the Mackenzie Presbyterian University and improved his skills at the São Paulo School in Brazil. Known as MS @ms .features, he directed over 100 fashion films for brands such as Calvin Klein and Vogue, with the participation of national artists such as Cláudia Raia and Paolla Oliveira.
His first short film, “Passos”, starring Gabi Lopes and Kayky Brito, received acclaim, winning awards at the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival and the São Paulo Film Festival in 2022. Its 2023 release, “In Orbit”, also received recognition at the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival.
Silva maintained his creativity in 2023, producing and directing a series of short films scheduled to be released in 2024, including “Jasmine”, “The Visit”, “Good Behavior” and “Vacuum”. He is currently working on a new project scheduled for May 2024.
Silva's films address social issues such as suicide awareness, child abduction, dementia, and LGBTQ+ rights. Her commitment to meaningful storytelling ensures that her work sparks vital conversations within society.
CM: During the character building process, what were the paths and tools that you used to embody Teresa?
AB: I have to thank my coach, Ana Beatriz, who was with me all the time during the shooting days, helping me with interpretation, reading and body. We did a beautiful job during and before going to the set to record. In the filming I used my experience, in some way I am Teresa, of the many that exist out there, I feel blessed to have lived this story.
CM: The transformation of the professional through the characteristic of a character is something extremely unique for each of the actors involved in the scene. How do you see the separation between life on and off in front of the camera?
AB: During a shoot I completely surrender, accept the styling changes, the appropriate makeup for the character, and live what is being told. In my personal life I like to test things on my appearance but in general each character is very different from what you really are, the subtext of each script helps to see these characteristics. Teresa, for example, is a photographer, so I used my life experience and perception on a film set to deliver what was necessary in the scenes that I needed to be with the camera. In my personal life, I only know how to use the cell phone camera - so the separation happens when you realize that there are things that you don't do and are not.
CM: How do you think that the film, its history, and independent cinema can impact viewers in a digitized era structured by infobesity?
It's a very current topic, many young people experience family problems, it's a very emotional drama. So I believe that telling this story is essential because it's the reality and the reality out there only impacts people in some sense. Independent cinema lacks good scripts and infrastructure to work and, with current guidelines, it can help promote art and communicate with the digital crowd.
About the Actress...
A makeup artist by training, she participated in several audiovisual advertisements until she received her first invitation to perform. Currently in advertising, she is present in digital media with content of beauty and enthusiasm in music. The communicator is part of the cast of the Jabuticaba agency, under the care of Caico de Queiroz.
