Visitor DVD

Fans of actor-director Tom McCarthy's highly praised debut, THE STATION AGENT, will not be disappointed by his second film, a gentle drama about illegal immigration. At 62, Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) is sleepwalking through his quiet life as an economics professor in Connecticut. A conference for work forces him to return to New York City, where he finds something unexpected in his nearly forgotten Manhattan apartment: a pair of illegal immigrants is renting his place from a dishonest man, and they're just as shocked by his presence as he is by theirs. But Walter's kindness prevails, and he allows Syrian immigrant Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his Senegalese love Zainab (Danai Gurira) to stay. Tarek and Walter form an unlikely bond over Tarek's talent for playing the djembe drum, and soon Walter is spending his spare time with the couple. When Tarek is unjustly arrested, deportation hangs over the young man's head and Walter is determined to help. The arrival of Tarek's mother (Hiam Abbass) adds another element to the trouble, but she provides unexpected companionship for Walter as he crusades for her son's freedom. THE STATION AGENT was a pleasant surprise for everyone who saw it, and while THE VISITOR revisits some of the same themes (particularly loneliness), it doesn't feel like a retread. In his first two films as writer and director, McCarthy has displayed an impressive touch with both quietly funny dialogue and complex characters. All the actors deserve credit for their emotional performances, but Jenkins adeptly carries the film on his shoulders. Until THE VISITOR, he has been a prolific character actor, perhaps most recognizable as the dearly departed dad on SIX FEET UNDER. But as magnetic as he has been in small roles, the depth of his talent becomes even more obvious in this remarkable lead performance.

Visitor Reviews:

"This audaciously issues-loaded indie drama works, improbably and entirely, on account of the marvelous, often familiar-looking, rarely starring character actor Richard Jenkins and his perfect performance..." -- Grade: B+-- Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

3.5 stars out of 4 -- "THE VISITOR, featuring the magnificent Richard Jenkins as the prof, is a heartfelt human drama that sneaks up and floors you."-- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

4 stars out of 5 -- "McCarthy makes a serious point about immigration without losing his lightness of touch, and he's assisted by terrific turns by Jenkins and Sleiman."-- Anna Smith, Empire

"[A]s a portrait of a man rediscovering life, it's subtle, tender and very funny."-- Sight and Sound Critic, Sight and Sound

Ranked #7 in Rolling Stone's 'Movies Of The Year' -- "[With] a career performance from Richard Jenkins..."-- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his US indie is an impeccably liberal post-9/11 drama....THE VISITOR sees veteran character actor Jenkins deliver a satisyfingly restrained central turn."-- Tom Dawson, Total Film

3.5 stars out of 4 -- "[O]ne of the years' most intriguing dramas, with a quartet of powerful performances....THE VISITOR connects on an emotional, rather than simply rhetorical, level."-- Claudia Puig, USA Today

"[A]n unassuming but quietly heartbreaking drama about the unexpected bonds that can form in a city like New York, and their depth and fragility in times of hysteria."-- Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times

"The curious thing about THE VISITOR is that even as it goes more or less where you think it will, it still manages to surprise you along the way."-- A. O. Scott, New York Times

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