 In her first narrative feature as writer/director, Maryland-based filmmaker Mary Hardcastle looks at the remnants of a modern suburban family after the death of one of its members. Her setting is bucolic -- the film was shot in attractive county settings around Baltimore -- but the lives of the people who live there, especially Ned and his son Hunter, are in turmoil. Into this uneasy environment steps the deceased s sister, Ray, played by Hardcastle. As her background gradually comes into focus, it becomes clear that she s not exactly what she seems. A woman of fearless exploration, her life has been one of risk-taking and question-asking. Her presence alone impacts Ned and Hunter, and challenges them to break down the invisible barriers in front of them. The Visit comes with a poignant reminder that helping people cope with pain -- and even learn from it -- can sometimes be accomplished with the smallest gesture.