The Visitor, He Said

This skillfully written and presented "little film" stars the familiar but little known Richard Jenkins as Walter Vale, a discontented economics professor. Jenkins is one of the many character actors, we see in films and on television, but until now has not been asked to carry the film. Ably supported by Haaz Sleiman as the illegal immigrant Tarek and his also illegal street vendor girl friend Zanib played by Danai Jekesai Gurira.

The story begins by slowly revealing Walter in his life as professor on a small campus, who is clearly burned out uninterested in his career. We know almost from the beginning that the book he is working on is not going well and his reluctance to teach, he only has one class, is a symptom of a greater discontent. Walter returns to his apartment in the New York City because he is forced to present a paper that he co-authored to a seminar.

When he gets to the apartment, he finds that someone has rented the unit to two illegals, Tarek, and Zanib. At first, he merely wants them out of his apartment, but when he sees that they are decent people, he invites them back on a temporary basis. As they pursue their living, Tarek is a musician and Zanib as a street vendor, Walter attends the seminar. They begin to get to know each other and relate to each others cultures. Walter has tried to learn to play the piano with little success, but when Tarek offers to show Walter to play the African drum, Walter begins his transformation.

When Tarek is arrested for a bungled attempt to get he and his drum through a subway turn-style, his status is revealed and he is interned in a holding prison in Queens, NY. Sanib dare not visit him because she will also be arrested. Tarek does not want his mother, who lives in Michigan, to know what is going on because she will worry to much.

Walter tries to get Tarek released by hiring a immigration attorney. When Tarek's mother comes to New York because she hasn't heard from him, our story takes a different turn. Their sweet and evolving relationship makes Walter realizes the the loss of his vitality and desire to live has been dashed by the death of his wife and his disillusionment with his career.

Thomas McCarthy's script and direction does not permit the Hollywood ending that we might hope for, but the scene with Walter drumming on the platform of the New York subway is probably more telling and inspiring than what Hollywood would usually provide.

This film is worth more than the tale of redemption. Walter, Tarek and Sanib's story tells us more about what it's like to be and illegal immigrant in this country. As in the film "Under the Same Moon", we are forced to see the bad things that happen to these generally good people. I don't think these films have any answers to the problems that illegal immigration bring to our table, but it forces most of us, who don't have to face the conditions of these people on a daily basis, look and feel their plight.