The Visitor
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Walter Vale is a widower who teaches economics at a Connecticut university. He lives alone and is no longer motivated by his work. In New York to present a paper at a conference, he goes to the apartment that he has not visited in some time, but has kept since his wife was alive, only to discover a young
… More »Walter Vale is a widower who teaches economics at a Connecticut university. He lives alone and is no longer motivated by his work. In New York to present a paper at a conference, he goes to the apartment that he has not visited in some time, but has kept since his wife was alive, only to discover a young couple living there. Despite their great cultural differences, Walter befriends Tarek, a Syrian citizen and drummer, and gradually builds a friendship with Esi, his girlfriend from Senegal. One day, when returning from Central Park with Walter, Tarek is arrested for jumping a stuck subway turnstile, despite the fact that he had paid. The police discover he does not have legal papers and transfer him to an immigrant detention center in Queens. Feeling responsible for and connected to Tarek, Walter decides to stay in New York to help and support him. Not hearing from her son, Tarek's mother arrives from Michigan to find out why, and she and Walter support one another while they attempt to free Tarek.
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Summary
Add a SummaryA college professor travels to New York City to attend a conference and finds a young couple living in his apartment.
Quotes
Add a QuoteTarek Khalil: Oh s**t! We have to get home! Zainab's gonna kill me, I'm on Arab time again. Prof. Walter Vale: What is "Arab time"? Tarek Khalil: It means I'm late by an hour. All Arabs are late by an hour, it's genetic, we can't help it.
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Add a CommentExcellent film. Good story and good acting.
This is one of my favorite movies. The story unfolds unexpectedly and the characters are given time to develop. Walter starts as a depressed shell of a man and through his involvement with the trials of another family finds joy and purpose . Eventually we love and cheer for all of them.
A beautiful film. Absolutely excellent!
I agree with George Millar. There was so much potential for a truly great movie and it just didn't cut it. It really need new writers. To bad the actors did the best they could with what they had to work with.
Could have been... should have been far, far better. Great idea... slowly told and poorly ended.
The main character is an American white male university professor specializing in the economics of developing countries. He is ruthless with his students, has no sense of faculty loyalty, and he is financially privilaged to own and maintain an apartment in New York and a house in Connecticut. All of these facts denote a highly insular individual who relishes his private spaces and personal power. There can be no doubt that he would feel emotionally assaulted by the invasive presence of strangers living in his own apartment in New York. Since there is no indication that he has any personal or political interest in social justice issues, such as belonging to a university action group or giving his book royalties to fight injustice in the struggling economies about which he writes, the context of the story becomes unrealistic because there is no "hook" to explain what grabs hold of this unkind university professor and suddenly inspires him to let strangers live in his apartment. This action is totally uncharacteristic and no explanation for this dangerous action is ever provided. There are a few other inconsistencies, but I cannot comment on those without giving away too much of the story. If you are willing to accept a few unnecessary flaws in logic within the story, then this movie has some positive comments on the value of love, family, and music.
not fair ? how old are u again ?
A nice heart-warming tale about how people from different cultures can get along and form lasting relationships.
djembe
unexpectedly delightful, tugs at your compassion. be sure to see The Station Agent and Win Win, also written and directed by Tom McCarthy. very human films