Small films touching ordinary lives can be 'big' films. The Visitor walks that path and does a neat job in portraying the life of a professor whose life undergoes a change when he encounters strangers & connects with them.
Walter, the professor, a successful academician lives a lonely life in Connecticut. He appears brooding & aloof, and struggles to learn piano. Much against his wishes he is asked to go to present a paper in New York. When he reaches his apartment that he hasn't visited for years, he discovers a young couple staying in his house. As he allows them to stay, he builds a bond with Tarek, a Syrian who teaches him to play drum.
His life starts to open up but Tarek is caught by the police. Walter discovers that he is illegal and hires a lawyer to fight for him. Strangers become his family, and the circle closes with Tarek's mother arriving in New York. He helps her by being the contact with her son and as they interact more, they develop a special bond - two single people heading towards the twilight of their lives and finding peace with each other. However, the journey ends in a sort of a bittersweet way.
The film, like Walter, moves somewhat slowly, but picks up momentum when he discovers the young man. Together they bring a spark to the screen; a young man passing the youth to the older man. The story is of Walter how he tries to find meaning in his life but at the same time it touches issues of immigrants, post 9/11 usa's toughness; Tarek, the visitor comes illegally and helps find a lost American find meaning in his life.
It dabbles in interesting themes and tells the story very simply. At times, the film tries to be cute on-the-face, but...it does justice to the journey of Walter. It seems to go on predictable paths, but then changes tracks to bring-in added momentum. Living alone, after losing his 'beautiful' wife, he finds a family, a soul-mate and music that has made him alive.
Richard Jenkins, nominated for Oscar does a decent job; he plays a character that is never overt about his emotions, under the hood, yet...depicting the personality of a person who isn't too alive. The plan is to show him underplay throughout and later open him up thereby showing the arc. However some times it seems as if the character is too closed for comfort.
Haaz Sleiman plays Tarek; he is helped by a character who brings gaiety, and Tarek does a great job in doing that. His on-screen partner, Danai Gurira gives a solid performance too. It's Hiam Abbas, as the mother, whose character seems uni-dimensional playing the sad mother. Yet...in certain scenes, the poignancy shines well when Mouna shares the pain with Walter.
The film appears small with not so known actors and that appears to be its strength. It works pretty well. Those who can enjoy films at languid pace, which delve more into irony and sadness, would have a good time with this one.
Writer: Tom McCarthy
Director: Tom McCarthy
Rating ***1/2
[Max ****]
[Viewed on 5th April at Hampden, courtesy rental DVD]
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