The Visitor (2007)
- Starring:
- Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abbass, (more)
- Director(s):
- Tom McCarthy
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG13
- Category:
- Independent Films, Drama
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A lonesome widower and college economics professor finds his mundane existence suddenly shaken up when he befriends a pair of illegal immigrants, one of whom has recently been threatened with deportation by U.S. immigration authorities, in the sophomore feature from The Station Agent director Tom McCarthy. Years after losing his wife, 62-year-old Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) has also lost his passion for writing and teaching. In an effort to fill the empty void that his life has become, Walter makes a half-hearted attempt to learn to play classical piano. Later, when Walter's college sends him to a conference in Manhattan, he is surprised to discover that a young couple has moved into his seldom-used apartment in the city. Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his Senegalese girlfriend Zainab (Danai Gurira) have fallen victims to an elaborate real-estate scam, and as a result they no longer have a place to call home. When Walter reluctantly allows the couple to remain in his apartment, talented musician Tarek insists on repaying his host's kindness by teaching him to play the African drum. Over the course of Walter's lessons, the ageing academic finds his spirits revitalized while gaining a newfound appreciation for New York jazz clubs and Central Park drum circles. Later, Tarek is arrested in the subway and threatened with deportation after police learn that he is an undocumented citizen. Suddenly, in his attempt to help his new friend, Walter's passion for life is unexpectedly awakened. When Tarek's radiant mother Mouna (Hiam Abbass) arrives in the city in search of her son, that passion turns to romance -- something that Walter had previously thought he would never experience again. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 103 mins
Complete Cast:
- Richard Jenkins - Walter Vale
- Haaz Sleiman - Tarek
- Marian Seldes - Barbara
- Michael Cumpsty - Charles
- Bill McHenry - Darin
- Amir Arison - Mr. Shah
- Ramon Fernandez - Cop #1
- Waleed Zuaitor - Omar
- Ashley Springer - Student
- Jacqueline Brogman - Waiter
- Yevgeniy Dekhtyar - Slavic Man
- Walter the Dog - Sprinkles the Dog
- Hiam Abbass - Mouna
- Danai Gurira - Zainab
- Richard Kind - Jacob
- Maggie Moore - Karen
- Tzahi Moskovitz - Zev
- Neal Lerner - Martin Revere
- Frank Pando - Cop #2
- Deborah Rush - Upper Eastside Woman
- Laith Nakli - Nasim
- Walter T. Mudu - Ronald Cole
- Earl Baker, Jr. - Lester James
- Director(s):
- Tom McCarthy
- Writer(s):
- Tom McCarthy
- Producer(s):
- Mary Jane Skalski, Michael London
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG13(Profanity)
- Categories:
- Drama, Independent Films
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
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- 2008 - The Visitor - National Board of Review - Best Independent Film
- 2008 - The Visitor - San Diego Film Critics Association - Best Original Screenplay
- 2008 - The Visitor - St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association - Best Music
