The Visitor

The Visitor (IMDB) is a 2007 independent movie that I warmly recommend. It tells the story of Walter, a university professor who feels unsatisfied with his life: he's a widower, frustrated piano learner, lame teacher, and hasn't done any proper research work in years.

In a trip Walter makes to New York ---to present a conference paper he coauthored but didn't write--- he confronts himself through music and a couple of young immigrants. The movie is a direct yet very elegant critique of immigration issues; the merit is that it does so without falling into the classic stereotypes. Photography is fantastic; the director uses New York's scenarios wonderfully. Here's a trailer:



The Visitor features outstanding performances. The main role is played by Richard Jenkins, an actor that you might surely remember from secondary parts in many movies. (A recent Jenkins' appearance is in Cohen brothers' Burn After Reading.) Jenkins' performance is excellent. The movie is completed by other three actors who are as unknown as their characters convincing thorough the movie.

The thing I liked the most about the movie is the conclusion. It's hard to express without giving you spoilers. I will, however, say that the director could have taken the easy road and end up with the usual happy ending you see in romantic comedies. The ending is not happy nor sad, which is great: this makes you think about the characters and their developments.