Rama’s SCREEN

As an immigrant, I say this movie hits close to home. It’s a great and more or less accurate portrayal of immigrants’ struggle in this country which was once the land of immigrants. THE VISITOR is filled with the political aspect and the irony surrounding the issue that’s been debated forever. Actor turned Director Tom McCarthy, however, would also like to… emphasize that this is a love story. It’s more evident now than ever than we as human beings are meant to be in the companion of somebody we care about, no matter where they come from.

A college professor has lost the joy of teaching. He lives his life daily without any purpose or meaning. One day he comes home to his New York Apartment only to find two immigrants have been staying at his place for two months. Feeling bad them having to wait on the side of the road, he invites them in and in time, they become friends. One of them teaches him music and helps regenerate the life that he once loved. Until one day, his friend is arrested and thrown into the detention center.

Veteran actor Richard Jenkins is Oscar worthy in his performance as a professor who pretends to be busy.
I’ve been a big fan of his on the TV series Six Feet Under.
In this movie, he reminds me a lot of Jack Nicholson’s character in About Schmidt.
The difference is.. Richard’s character takes time until he gets enough courage to speak his mind.

I like how filmmaker Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent) put in references about the statue of Liberty and World Trade Center.
They represent the way things have changed. How the concept of freedom has been skewed by a few and made disadvantageous for the many.
Many people would see Lady Liberty and rejoice for the chance at a better life but seeing that WTC buildings aren’t where they were anymore reminds them that they have to be looking over their shoulders everyday because that chance might slip away in a blink of an eye.

I don’t think Tom McCarthy intended this movie to be political or that he expects this movie would somehow start a revolution and changes in the policy that we have currently regarding immigration. I think it’s meant to be a love story and the situation that encourages that love to happen.. and for the complication factor, he chose an issue that IS complicated and ongoing… and whether we like it or not, it touches every individual one way or another.
As much as we’d like to think we can control our destiny, often times we find ourselves at the mercy of destiny itself.

* Place the cursor on the image below to check my grade for this film