The Visitor (Dir: Tom McCarthy)

In the movies when strangers enter your home, it is often played up for horror. But in The Visitor, Prof. Walter Vale enters his New York apartment and finds a husband and wife living in his home, happily. This is a more benign, humanist tale of strangers invading. Walter befriends the invaders and even learns from them. This setup, though, is really a means to examine xenophobia and current U.S. immigration policy. When Walter welcomes Tarek into his home his life is enriched. So should the U.S. welcome its visitors and have our nation similarly enriched.

This message took me out of the story somewhat as the film feels a bit like a didactic exercise, a fable. Director Tom McCarthy stacked the deck thoroughly in his favor. He wants to demonstrate the injustice of current immigration practices specifically deportation. Tarek (Haaz Sleiman), the illegal immigrant in danger of deportation, is extremely kind and brings unhappy recluse Walter out of his shell. I don't doubt that the U.S. is full of noble, kind illegal visitors like Tarek, but I also believe the McCarthy intends Tarek to be a stand in for all immigrants. If one so noble as Tarek could be turned away, isn't the process inherently flawed?

I should state, however, that I enjoyed The Visitor very much. It is a humane film that demonstrates the virtue of opening our lives to others. Like the director's other film The Station Agent, it tells the story of a man who is enriched when he chooses to get to know and fellowship with his neighbors. The performances are calm and subtle. McCarthy directs with a steady hand and allows room for silence and, in turn, reflection for his audience. Richard Jenkins gives a performance so assured that one cannot imagine another actor in the role.

The Visitor succeeds as a character study, but as an allegory it comes up a little short.