The Visitor is Thomas McCarthy’s 2008 follow up to his critically acclaimed debut, The Station Agent. Currently, the movie has three pending nominations at The Independent Spirit Awards, which is what convinced me to check it out.

It’s one of those movies that for the most part can go largely unnoticed and that seems something of a parody to our protagonist Walter Vale. Played by character actor Richard Jenkins, Walter is a widowed college professor, who trudges through life with an emotionless inert depression. He’s disillusioned as he’s taught the same class for 20 years, returns to his empty home to cook for himself, listen to classical music and drink red wine. He gains no satisfaction from his lack of progress in learning piano. It’s a meaningless life as he’s shown in shots sitting alone, disinterested by his surroundings.

Things change when he’s sent to a conference in New York. Returning to his uninhabited New York apartment he finds it occupied by a couple of immigrants, themselves the victim of a rental scam. Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) is a Syrian master of the djembe (an African drum). Zainab (Danai Gurira) is his Senagalese girlfriend who sells her handmade jewelry at a local flea market. After allowing his two visitors to pack up their belongings, Walter chases them down and invites them to stay for a few days, until they find something else.

An unlikely friendship unfolds, as Walter’s cold front slowly warms to his two visitors. Tarek is instantly friendly, a people’s person who is able to identify something in Walter that all around him seem to have missed. He invites him to his musical performances at a local bar, then recognizing his interest, teaches him to play the djembe. Zainab is a little more restrained and apprehensive. She has every reason to be suspicious, as an illegal immigrant Walter is the kind of person she has been taught not to trust.

This is a tale of evolving characters, growth and humanity. From his listless life, Walter becomes creatively and socially inspired. In an early scene he shows that he could care less about a student trying to turn in a paper after deadline. When Tarek is detained by immigration officials, Walter suddenly shows his benevolence by becoming a personal aide and paying for an attorney. Tarek’s mother (Hiam Abbass) enters the story, and another unlikely relationship forms. Since all involved are illegal immigrants, Walter becomes the point of contact between Tarek and the outside world, and more significantly Tarek and his family.

There’s a true tale and a message here. In one aspect we’re forced to take a closer and more personal look at the immigration situation in our country. We’re not looking at a statistic or a news story, but a life and a personality. While the movie may paint this from a one-sided perspective, it’s the case less spoken and forces us to think a little deeper. But political commentary is not the essential theme, it’s more of a background story. It’s essentially a story about the meaning that people can find in their own lives through a connection with others. The movie’s perspective gradually shifts from the immigrants being the visitors, to Walter being a visitor in their lives. It’s a tale of how people meet, affect each other and then move on. By the end we’re not really sure that one particular person is “the visitor.”

McCarthy’s storyline is exquisite and uncompromising. It doesn’t tie up nicely at the end, and leaves a few questions unanswered. McCarthy doesn’t opt for the dramatic moments and instead focuses on the true emotion of his characters. To that extent The Visitor’s true success is in the portrayal of its lead actors. Jenkins has been a bit-part actor throughout his career, a stereotype. Here he portrays Walter with perfect emotion. His acting is never dramatic, and he communicates most effectively through silence and listless expression. As his character unfolds he starts to show signs of emotion, but is essentially stoic throughout. Haaz Sleiman’s performance is magical and inspirational. His character is instantly loveable but you sense that Sleiman is a natural. His smiles and encouragement make him an instant and warming attraction that will surely endear him to many future roles.

This is a quiet, unpretentious movie that never tries to over exaggerate. Some will find it a little too slow, but it sticks to the truth. It sticks to purpose; a tale of humanity and the role people play in each other’s lives.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations:

Best Director: Thomas McCarthy
Best Supporting Male: Haaz Sleiman
Best Male Lead: Richard Jenkins

Recommended: Yes