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The Visitor (2007/I)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Thomas McCarthy (written by)
Release Date:
18 April 2008 (USA)
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Tagline:
Connection is everything more
Plot:
A college professor travels to New York City to attend a conference and finds a young couple living in his apartment. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 12 wins
&
12 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(290 articles)
Commentary: HBO Should Find Gold With 'Game Of Thrones'
(From Airlock Alpha. 16 November 2009, 11:44 PM, PST)
Up Blu-ray Review
(From TheHDRoom. 6 November 2009, 8:11 AM, PST)
(From Airlock Alpha. 16 November 2009, 11:44 PM, PST)
Up Blu-ray Review
(From TheHDRoom. 6 November 2009, 8:11 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Another Gem from Tom McCarthy
more (125 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Richard Jenkins | ... | Prof. Walter Vale |
 | Haaz Sleiman | ... | Tarek Khalil |
 | Danai Jekesai Gurira | ... | Zainab (as Danai Gurira) |
 | Hiam Abbass | ... | Mouna Khalil |
 | Marian Seldes | ... | Barbara |
 | Maggie Moore | ... | Karen |
| Michael Cumpsty | ... | Charles |
| Bill McHenry | ... | Darin |
 | Richard Kind | ... | Jacob |
| Tzahi Moskovitz | ... | Zev |
 | Amir Arison | ... | Mr. Shah |
| Neal Lerner | ... | Martin Revere |
 | Ramon Fernandez | ... | Cop #1 |
 | Frank Pando | ... | Cop #2 |
 | Waleed Zuaiter | ... | Omar |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
104 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:PG |
USA:PG-13 |
UK:15 |
Ireland:PG |
Australia:M |
Sweden:Btl |
Sweden:7 |
Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) |
Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) |
Singapore:NC-16 |
Netherlands:AL |
Portugal:M/12 |
Argentina:Atp |
South Korea:All
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The parking lot in which Walter parks his car after arriving in New York - on East 11th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue - was torn down shortly after the film was released.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: In New York airport, the flight was announced as "flight to Syria", although it should actually name the airport (Damascus), not the country. But more importantly, there is no direct non-stop flight from New York to Syria.
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Quotes:
Mouna Khalil:
[frustrated with ruthless US immigration system] It's just like Syria.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2009) (TV)
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Soundtrack:
Je'nwi Teni (Don't Gag Me)
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FAQ
Is this movie based on a novel?Is there an official Web site?
What is "The Visitor" about?
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more (125 total)
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I absolutely loved The Station Agent in Sundance 2003, so I put Tom McCarthy's newest movie, The Visitor, at the top of my list. Boy was that a good call. This is a lovely, gentle and touching film that works on many levels. Richard Jenkins gives a perfectly understated performance. A veteran character actor (I counted 75 roles since 1985, that's about five per year!), it's the first time I've seen him as a lead. And the rest of the cast is terrific as well, including Hiam Abbass, Haaz Sleiman and Danai Jekesai Gurira.
Walter Vale (Jenkins) is a widower who teaches economics at a Connecticut university. No longer motivated by his work, he lives alone, struggling to find passion and meaning in his life. In New York to present a paper at a conference, he goes to the apartment that he has kept since his wife was alive (but hasn't visited for some time) only to discover a young couple living there, having been duped by an acquaintance who "rented" it to them. Despite their great cultural difference, Walter befriends Tarek (Sleiman), a Syrian citizen and drummer, and gradually builds a friendship with Esi (Gurira), his girlfriend from Senegal. One day, when returning from Central Park with Walter, Tarek gets 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 stays 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.
The movie is a painful illustration of the inhumanity of the post-9/11 immigration policies and procedures. At the same time, it beautifully illuminates the wonders of friendship, kindness, reaching out, exploring life and finding meaning in a challenging world. Despite it's gentle pace, the story glides by, establishing characters that we care deeply about. The Visitor has a lot of heart. The audience reaction was effusive, and gave McCarthy the longest standing ovation I have heard at Sundance in some time. Scheduled to be released April 11 in New York, definitely put this one on your list.
Sundance Moment: McCarthy talked about Participant Media, which helped fund the production (and also Syriana, Charlie Wilson's War, An Inconvenient Truth and other cause-related movies). Visit their website at www.takepart.com to explore meaningful causes and how you can become informed and get involved. McCarthy also said that he wrote the screenplay with Jenkins and Abbass in mind, tailoring their roles to the two of them.