The Visitor

The 2007 film, The Visitor, is an emotionally stirring and reflective drama that turns a nuanced lens upon modern societal and human issues as it tells the story of a withdrawn and widowed economics professor, Walter Vale, played by the utterly engaging Richard Jenkins. Directed by Tom McCarthy, the film creates an engaging narrative that begs to question the meaning of identity, the fluidity of life, and the power of unexpected human connections.

Walter Vale's character is a Connecticut professor descending through silent desperation into a mundane and pointless life following his wife’s death. No longer excited by his profession and with the passage of time, Vale finds himself leading an isolative life. A narrative catalyst finds him venturing back to New York to present a paper at a conference only to discover that his seldom-visited New York flat is now occupied by a young immigrant couple, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman), a Syrian musician, and Zainab (Danai Gurira), his Senegalese girlfriend who makes jewelry. Their presence and persistence in ways that Walter could never have anticipated are what sets the film’s event wheel in motion.

The interaction between Vale and the couple is tense and awkward at first. The couple claiming to be victims of a rental scam, had nowhere else to go since they were illegal immigrants and were fearful of contacting the authorities. Walter’s initial reaction is to have them vacate the premises but after a few moments of consideration, he offers an olive branch and allows them to stay temporarily until they could find alternative housing. What seemed at first like a simple charity act on Walter’s part soon morphs into an unlikely friendship, transforming his life and inspiring a newfound vigour within him.

The Visitor is a compelling character study of a man, Walter, and his journey from a self-imposed life devoid of joy to a man inspired and invigorated by his ability to transcend boundaries and forge transformative connections. He becomes entwined with the plight the young couple finds themselves in. Tarek, a passionate drummer, introduces Walter to the world of music, a vital element in the film. Their shared moments where Tarek tutors Walter on the African Djembe drum are heartwarming and revealing. There is also Zainab who, despite her initial stoicism and scepticism towards Walter, gradually thaws, adding another layer to the poignancy of the narrative.

The tact and care with which the film treats delicate subjects such as immigration, racial prejudice, and cultural divide are commendable. It’s the precise melding of excellent scripting, magnetic character development, but more importantly, the actor’s performances that each dialogue, encounter, and experience in the film seem so incredibly real and moving. Jenkins brings a profound depth to his character. His delivery of the introverted and stoic Walter Vale is near tangible while Sleiman’s portrayal of the charismatic and good-natured Tarek brings an infectious warmth to the film’s landscape. Gurira, playing the suspicious and guarded Zainab, maintains a level of intrigue keeping the audience engaged.

The film also introduces Mouna (Hiam Abbass), Tarek’s mother, whose presence adds another dimension to the unfolding narrative. Her searching and hopeful gaze, her strength despite her circumstances, instantly draws sympathy. The bond that develops between her and Walter emerges as one of the most unique and touching relationships in the movie.

What is clear is that The Visitor offers more than just visual cinematic pleasure. It demonstrates that reality is a complex tapestry of blended lives and experiences, openness to cultural diversity and how connections can comfort and fill the void left by the loss of loved ones. While the film is elegant in its simplicity, it does raise some pertinent questions about common human experiences, personal growth, and the state of immigration in modern society.

The Visitor is a triumph of storytelling and the humanistic study of a man's unexpected transformation. It is a deeply intimate and heartfelt testament of the cross-cultural bonds of friendship and the indefatible spirit of humanity.