Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" tells the story of a middle-aged professor at Connecticut College. Walter Vale (played by "Six Feet Under" star Richard Jenkins) is a quiet man who lives a solitary life. He has taught the same course for 20 years, struggles to play the piano in an attempt to maintain a connection with his deceased wife, a classical pianist, and he tends to avoid prolonged communication with anyone. To put it plainly, Walter seems numb; we don't see him care about anything or even see any humanity in him, and so he frustrates us.
When Walter is asked to speak at a conference in New York City, he returns to his apartment in the city only to find two illegal immigrants have been living there in hiding. Rather than kicking them out, Walter decides to let the young couple, the Syrian drummer Tarek (Hazz Sleiman) and Senegalese Zainab (Danai Gurira), stay on with him. Tarek and Walter quickly form a friendship when Tarek gives Walter drumming lessons. But after only a few days, Tarek is arrested and placed in a detention center.
Days after Tarek's arrest, his mother, Mouna (Hiam Abbass), who had been living illegally in Michigan, comes to the city in search of her son. When she finds out that he has been arrested, she refuses to return to Michigan. Walter opens up his apartment to her, and together they attempt to free Tarek. In the process, a small romance begins to develop.
Set after 9/11, "The Visitor" deftly, albeit necessarily, walks a fine line to avoid covering old ground. The film examines what America stands for and the place of the immigrant in the wake of terrorist attacks, themes that have been covered so many times the film could have easily become repetitive and cliche.
The plot itself - an educated white middle-aged man rediscovers himself by befriending a displaced illegal immigrant - could also have succumbed to predictability. For a while, it certainly seems that it has: the illegal immigrant is arrested, and the protagonist feels compelled to fight for him because the bond shared between them has become vital to him. Sounds conventional, doesn't it?
But "The Visitor" is simply not predictable, and it isn't spouting old news because the acting, writing and directing are top-notch. The movie tells us a story that is fresh, captivating and strikingly poignant.
Richard Jenkins is the film's biggest asset, and he rises to the challenge of portraying Walter as completely closed off, which could have made the character hard to relate to and very easy to dislike.
Jenkins avoids both of these pitfalls. He creates a character so complex and intriguing that we can't help but be interested and invested in him. Walter is so layered, honest and true to life that we quickly begin to genuinely care about him.
The other three actors - Sleiman, Gurira and Abbass - are all strong as well. Abbass in particular stands out. Her Mouna has emotions as concealed as Walter is closed off. But Abbass, through great dexterity and subtlety, allows us tiny glimpses into Mouna's heart, and we become invested in her as well.
While the film has its flaws - it feels a bit melodramatic, a bit contrived and presses its message a bit too obviously - Tom McCarthy's "The Visitor" deserves recognition: It is a film of many strengths, the greatest of which is the message it sends. Through this compelling story, McCarthy shows us that a grave injustice is being committed through America's immigration policies. America grounds itself in basic human rights, and yet we are treating those unable to legally immigrate inhumanely. Because we have set up laws that immigrants cannot always follow, we strip them of rights that they, too, should have - and thus our values are reduced to words on a page.
Do yourselves a favor: See "The Visitor." You might see something in a new light; you will certainly see something of great importance.
The Visitor
The Garden Theatre
$7.25 with PUID
(609) 683-7595
4 out of 5 paws
Pros:
Great acting, directing, writing
Strong message and well-executed
Cons:
Melodramatic and a bit too overt at moments
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