The Visitor
(Directed and written by Thomas McCarthy, starring Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Jekesai Gurira, and Hiam Abbass)
Rita saw a heartwarming movie that might have slipped under the radar. It stars Richard Jenkins, best known as the father character from “Six Feet Under.” Jenkins plays a shut-down man; a professor going through the motions at his dead-end job at an undisclosed university. He life is irrevocably changed when he stumbles across two “visitors” living in his rent-stabilized apartment in Manhattan. Tarek and Zainab are a couple—she hails from Sengal and he’s from Syria—living illegally under his roof. The girlfriend sells jewelry around NYU and Tarek plays the African drums at a bar downtown and in Central Park. This picture is a love letter to New York City and to all the immigrants that make up her dazzling mosaic.
The human connection is simply magnificent. The story builds subtly…it creeps up on you and by the time the plot turns, you may find yourself very heavily invested in the lives of these characters. Tarek, the musician and Walter, the professor, establish a great rapport. It is amazing to watch how one person can bring life back to another human being. The movie emphasizes the importance of human connection above and beyond the indifference of bureaucracy in immigration policy. And let me just add that the very lovely actress, Hiam Abbass, was a wonder to watch as a gorgeous, midlife woman. Her eyes alone spoke volumes. You must see this sleeper to truly appreciate it.
Rita rather not spoil the rest of the story for you so do yourself a favor and queue it up on Netflix and be prepared to be thoroughly moved. See link below to listen to Terry Gross of WNYC’s “Fresh Air” interview with Jenkins.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98261650&ft=1&f=13
1 Comment
June 30, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Loved your movie reviews, looking forward to your review of DOUBT.