They lost their son—but rediscovered family and healing wrapped in a stranger’s kindness
A Christmas Visitor (2002) is a heartfelt family drama that explores grief, forgiveness, and the true spirit of the season. Directed by Christopher Leitch, the film centers on the Fuller family, still struggling with the loss of their son in the Gulf War. Their quiet Christmas traditions have grown hollow—but this year, a mysterious stranger brings unexpected warmth to their home and hearts.The Fullers gather at their lakeside home, visibly distant and subdued. When a polite war veteran named Geoffrey, claiming to be a friend of their late son, appears in town, he offers not just camaraderie but the spark of holiday cheer. Slowly, Geoffrey’s kindness—baking, stories, thoughtful gifts—softens the family's grief. As tensions ease, buried feelings are revisited: Mom’s sense of duty, Dad’s quiet pain, and the siblings’ silent guilt. When the truth of Geoffrey’s identity is revealed, the Fullers realize they’ve received a deeper gift: permission to let love in again.
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A Christmas Visitor* is gentle, sincere, and deeply rooted in themes of healing, remembrance, and reconnection. It’s a reminder that sometimes closure arrives wrapped in mystery—and that hope can return when we least expect it.
