A Christmas Visitor (2002) (TV)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Christopher Leitch

Writers (WGA):

George Samerjan (written by) &
David Saperstein (written by)

Release Date:

21 December 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A father struggles with the past. A daughter fights for the future. A mother searches for answers. The...

Plot Keywords:

Gulf War | Son | Christmas | Grief | Family Relationships

Cast

William Devane	...	George Boyajian
Meredith Baxter	...	Carol Boyajian
Dean McDermott	...	Matthew
Reagan Pasternak	...	Jean Boyajian
Aaron Ashmore	...	John Boyajian
Riley Chitty	...	Jean Boyajian (11 yrs)
Richard Blackburn	...	Larry Williamson
Judy Sinclair	...	Mary Simpson
Mung-Ling Tsui	...	Dr. Ortiz
Jonathan Whittaker	...	Tom
Frank McAnulty	...	Artie
Craig Eldridge	...	Lester
Vladimir Jon Cubrt	...	Leader (as Jon Cubrt)
Kevin Dennis	...	Young Man #1
Joan Gregson	...	Miss Kearney

Runtime:

USA:100 min | 88 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Port Perry, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Cypress Point Productions

Goofs:

Factual errors: John Boyajian's uniform. He has the 7th Special Forces Flash on his beret, but 7th SFG(A) did not deploy to either Operation Desert Shield or Desert Storm. He furthermore wears the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Govt. of Kuwait) and Kuwait Liberation Medal (Govt. of Saudi Arabia) ribbons on his rack, but these where not awarded till after the end of Operation Desert Storm. Also he wears his name shield incorrectly over his right breast pocket (the place where his Distinctive Unit Insignia should have been) instead of centered on the flap of his right breast pocket. Besides that he doesn't know how to wear his beret and his uniform seems to large he doesn't wear his pants bloused over jump boots.

Very Involving and Surprising Little Gem

I'd like first to address a few negative comments I read here. #1 this movie is anything but boring. It doesn't have car chases, nudity or foul language, nor is it suspenseful or tense. It is low key, and rightfully so, and has an inspiring, positive message. #2 Maybe the medals and other props aren't authentic, and the snow, always a problem for me in Hollywood movies, is obviously fake (real snow melts almost immediately when it lands on your hair, face or clothes). But the message is what's important here, not who sends it, or how it was sent! And finally #3 The acting is topnotch! Everyone was completely believable and this may be one of the best performances of Devane's career. Everything was very subtle in this film; nothing over the top as in some heartwarming films. I found the story very involving and engrossing. One small insignificant complaint of mine would be that a better method of phasing in and out of flashbacks would make it less confusing. But maybe that's my problem with attention spans. As for the ending, it is left for the viewer to determine its meaning. I agree it's not the greatest Christmas movie, but it's up there with the better ones.