The Visitor
One thing I can say about The Visitor is that at the end of April it is certainly the best film of 2008. But there are many other things to say about the film as well.
Thomas McCarthy (who wrote and directed another film that I love - The Station Agent)
has created a wonderful, heartfelt film that has something to say about the world (and country) we live in. Walter Vale (a marvelous Richard Jenkins) is a professor living in Connecticut. He is a widower and leads a very dull, lonely life. When his colleagues insist that he goes to New York to attend a conference and present a paper he reluctantly consents. He has an apartment there so he doesn't have to worry about a place to stay. But to his surprise he finds a couple - Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) for Syria and Zaineb (Daini Guira) from Senegal. Someone had rented them the apartment without Walter's permission. But he lets them stay and that proves to be a life changing experience.
The Visitor delves into the problems that illegal immigrants have in the US. Most of them just want a better life but if caught they are treated like criminals. I hope that we can find a good way to help these people and not continue to use the solution that is offered up in the film. But the film is not just an issues film. It is a film of the heart. We see Walter transformed from a man who has no passion to one who is brimming with life. And Jenkins makes him so very real. If there is any justice Jenkins will not be forgotten come next year's awards season. Also fantastic is Hiam Abbass as Tarek's mother Mouna. When you look into her eyes you can feel her pain. Sleiman and Guira are also fantastic.
I urge people to see this film. It is not something that you will soon forget. I went with a friend who also loved it. And when we were in the bathroom everyone there was in agreement. Highly recommended.
Thomas McCarthy (who wrote and directed another film that I love - The Station Agent)
has created a wonderful, heartfelt film that has something to say about the world (and country) we live in. Walter Vale (a marvelous Richard Jenkins) is a professor living in Connecticut. He is a widower and leads a very dull, lonely life. When his colleagues insist that he goes to New York to attend a conference and present a paper he reluctantly consents. He has an apartment there so he doesn't have to worry about a place to stay. But to his surprise he finds a couple - Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) for Syria and Zaineb (Daini Guira) from Senegal. Someone had rented them the apartment without Walter's permission. But he lets them stay and that proves to be a life changing experience.
The Visitor delves into the problems that illegal immigrants have in the US. Most of them just want a better life but if caught they are treated like criminals. I hope that we can find a good way to help these people and not continue to use the solution that is offered up in the film. But the film is not just an issues film. It is a film of the heart. We see Walter transformed from a man who has no passion to one who is brimming with life. And Jenkins makes him so very real. If there is any justice Jenkins will not be forgotten come next year's awards season. Also fantastic is Hiam Abbass as Tarek's mother Mouna. When you look into her eyes you can feel her pain. Sleiman and Guira are also fantastic.
I urge people to see this film. It is not something that you will soon forget. I went with a friend who also loved it. And when we were in the bathroom everyone there was in agreement. Highly recommended.
posted by Film Fanatic | 3:32 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home