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The Visitor
Directed by: Thomas McCarthy Starring: Richard Jenkins Genre: Drama/Independent Run Time: 104 min. Release Date: April 2008 On The Web: Official Site Teaser: Movie Trailer Reviewed by Byron Merritt |
There are so many great qualities about THE VISITOR that it’s tough to know where to start. I guess the first thing to mention might be the fact that it’s an independent film that got only scattered showings across the States. It plugged away for about 19 weeks at small, indie cineplexes and churned out a surprising $10 million dollars. Chump change for big budget films like the Spider Man series, but for something that cost around $1 million to make, that’s quite a hefty return for an indie. Although dollars don’t always add up to successful (or even good) cinema, it does show this film had legs and kept on sprinting along with other big budget summer flicks (it came out in April of 2008). I’d always wondered why it remained so long at my local art theater, but just never got around to seeing it. So when I saw its release on DVD, I swept in and picked up a copy to see what the hubbub was all about. Well, the quiet accolades were definitely deserved. The Visitor ranks up there as one of my favorite films this year. Why? Because it’s topical, well-acted (by many unknowns), and filmed in simple measures that allow the story to unfold without smacking the audience in the face with a blatant message. The star of the show is Richard Jenkins, and he’s the most familiar face you’ll see. Known as the quirky dead dad in the SIX FEET UNDER series, and appearing this year in the Cohen brothers’ dark comedy hit BURN AFTER READING, Jenkins pulls off the role of a lifetime. Professor Walter Vale (Jenkins) is just going through life’s motions. He cares for nothing since his wife passed away, giving boring lectures and repetitive tests to his students. Forced to leave town for New York City in order to give a speech about a book he coauthored (which he didn’t coauthor), Walter steps into his small apartment only to find two strangers living there without his knowledge. Tarek (Haaz Sleiman, 24) and his girlfriend Zainab (newcomer Danai Jekesai Gurira) were duped into renting the apartment by a slimy friend, and once Walter arrives they are forced to leave. Tarek is a Syrian while Zainab is a native of Africa and the two seem an odd pairing but are obviously in love. And Tarek’s other love, his drums, are what bring him and his girlfriend back into Walter’s fold. The thing Walter remembers most about his deceased wife is her love of music, and the opening scene of the film gives us some hidden insights into Walter’s need to stay connected to her (he tries to learn the piano but simply isn’t very good at it). But Tarek introduces him to his African drum and Walter’s mind begins to awaken. They play together in the apartment and in Central Park. Walter shirks everything he thought might be dear to him and follows Tarek around, watching him play at various venues. But then tragedy strikes. In a post 9/11 world, anyone who looks like Tarek is a suspect, so when a mistake at a subway turnstile turns into a legal matter, Walter learns some disturbing news: Tarek and Zainab are illegals. Feeling as if he’s losing another piece of himself (similar to the way he felt about losing his wife), Walter comes to their aid, hiring an immigration attorney and trying his best to get Tarek released. The ante gets upped further when Tarek’s mother (Hiam Abbass, PARADISE NOW) arrives and wants to know what’s going on with her son (whom she hasn’t heard from since his incarceration). Walter breaks the bad news to her, and she and Walter strike up a gradual personal relationship that pulls down many barriers (from political to social). It is a serious credit to this film that it takes on issues of the post 9/11 world and shows us the problems with our overly fearful homeland security system. Tarek is a hard worker, wanting only a fresh start in a country of opportunity, but is given none because of the color of his skin, the lilt of his voice, and the name of his country. Likewise for Zainab. And for Mouna (Tarek’s mother). And when Walter tries to get involved, the authorities see him as some fly who deserves to be swooshed away. The acting is stellar and the audience really begins to care about these people on the inside, allowing us to ignore their skin colors and strange accents. It has a powerful message – especially during one scene where we see Walter (white guy), Zainab (black) and Mouna (brown) walking side-by-side – and one that will probably remain with the audience long after they leave the theater (or finish the DVD). All one has to do is remember to keep on beating that drum to the tune of their own player.
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Image from The Visitor
DVD cost: $22.99 Purchase: Tower.com Film Review Stew Favorite? Yes. Stew Poo-Poo? No. Newsworthy: The film was released in 2008 and has already garnered seven awards from foreign nations, including Brisbane (Australia's) Interfaith Award. Movie Quote: "I sound a lot better when he's playing with me."
Other Actors/Actresses from The Visitor
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Images from The Visitor
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