The Visitor

By Jozua J.
Viewing: Sterkinekor
Release Date: 16 October 2009

The Visior
Directed By Tom Mcarthy
Screenplay By Tom Mcarthy
Director Of Photography Oliver Bokelberg

By Jozua J.
Viewing: Sterkinekor
Release Date:

The Visior
Directed By Tom Mcarthy
Screenplay By Tom Mcarthy
Director Of Photography Oliver Bokelberg

Cast:
Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Jekesai Gurira, Hiam Abbass
Running Time: 103min

When it comes to film genre's I must confess that dramas don't feature at the top of my list to watch, but it seems I would love directing a few. Because I now write reviews I am exposed to them more and more and as a director one can learn a lot from good dramas in terms of story telling. This is one of them. As dramas go, this is a character driven story and we find our main character, Walter (Richard Jerkins) seemingly at the end of his life. He is in his late fifties, his wife has passed away and he sits in a job which means nothing to him, the question is: Did it ever? During this time Walter is also a co-author to a student writing her thesis. The student falls ill and the university forces the professor to present the paper on behalf of her at a convention in New York, which he reluctantly agrees to. Arriving in Manhattan, it appears someone is trying to a make quick buck and has placed loggers in his apartment, which catches him of guard. Here we meet Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) an Arab, an aspiring musician along with his girl friend Zainab (Danai Gurira) an African girl, who makes and sells her jewelery at the local flee market. Not only are they now out of house and home, but it seems they are illegal immigrants in the US.



As the story unfolds, Walter is faced with his own empty life as well as getting involved with the lives of his loggers, which seems to be filled with joy, contentment and promise. As Walter's relationship grows with Tarek, he is taken away by the police, whom soon discovers that he has no papers and is an illegal immigrant. Taker's mother (Hiam Abyss) comes to visit her son which she has not heard of in five days, because he phones her everyday. The battle with the US immigration begins to find a way to get Tarek released. Amidst the personal battles, the film stirs one with beautiful moments and reminds me that I need to cherish every moment with people who become special in my life.


The sheer simplicity of the story which evokes so much emotion, really made me sit up and pay attention, not only on screen but the impact of it in real life, as my thoughts wandered back to the movie while I was driving home.

Pauses to responses from one character to another was stirring, the carefully chosen shots which meanings resound character change can be overlooked as the film subtly takes you forward in the journey of this man's life; making the film more than just the rules that govern a society and the people that come in and go out of our lives.

For the deep at heart and realist who wants to take a journey of the soul, I will see you at the movies. The Visitor gets a serious 8 out of 10.