REVIEW: Subtle 'Visitor' a touching and welcome life exam

By DAN BENNETT - Staff Writer | Wednesday, April 23, 2008 12:25 PM PDT ∞

Following up on his acclaimed "The Station Agent," writer-director Tom McCarthy once again mines for renewal in his protagonist with "The Visitor," and the result is a beautiful merger of ideas.

Richard Jenkins, the talented character actor best known for his role as the ghost-father in television's "Six Feet Under," plays Walter, a Connecticut economics professor who long ago lost his passion for teaching and life. A widower with no real connection to anyone, Walter finds his life unexpectedly rejuvenated.

The path is most unlikely. Walter travels to New York City for a conference he doesn't want to attend, and while there finds two people living in his apartment, a place he rarely occupies. Startling Walter upon his arrival are Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Tarek's girlfriend Zainab (Danai Gurira). Victims of a scam, Tarek and Zainab have no idea the apartment is owned by an outsider, and are surprised when confronted by the shaken Walter.

The two agree to leave, but Walter enjoys a change of heart, inviting Tarek and Zainab to stay. This action goes against the cautious nature and reserve of the introverted, long-shutdown Walter, and is the impetus for his new life journey. Before long, Tarek is teaching Walter to play African drums. Walter finds in this exercise a creative release, the new interest he has been longing for, and after initial reluctance, he takes to the instrument.

Things are fine until a minor legal incident threatens Tarek with deportation. Arriving in town is Tarek's mother Mouna (Hiam Abbass), who yearns to see her locked-up son, but can't. She develops a friendship, then finally, a deep connection with Walter. Along the way, both undergo profound transformations.

That big transformation, though, is beautifully understated in "The Visitor," a film avoiding huge moments in favor of subtle developments, slow revelations and self-discoveries. McCarthy's script covers the surface of immigration and deportation in the post-9/11 era, but is more a story of personal journeys, of the idea that life can begin again late, especially if chances are taken. With Jenkins delivering a complete, understated and deeply sensitive performance, "The Visitor" becomes a lovely and universal story of living life to the fullest.

A-

"The Visitor"

Starring: Richard Jenkins, Hiam Abbass, Danai Gurira, Haaz Sleiman

Director: Tom McCarthy

Studio: Overture Films

Rated: PG-13 (for brief strong language)

RT: 110 minutes