Categories: cinema
Date: 20 August 2008 03:52:46
Feeling a bit tired today, as after uni finished last night [just before 9pm] I went to see The Visitor. But the tiredness is well worth it: a superb film.
The previews also hinted at some interesting films: I have wanted to see The Savages for a few weeks but haven't got around to it; Persepolis looks rather interesting: looking at a young girl in Iran during the Islamic Revolution may be a heavy topic, but it looks to be presented in a interesting, and humorous, manner; and, finally, a movie adaptation of Brideshead Revisited: having read the book and seen the TV series, I am interested in how a big screen adaptation may be done.
Back to The Visitor... A widowed economics professor, Walter [played by Richard Jenkins], reluctantly attends a conference in New York, staying in his apartment which he hasn't used since his wife's death. In what is quite a shock, he finds illegal immigrants Tarek [Haas Sleiman] from Syria and Zainab [Danai Gurira] from Senegal living there. When Walter realises they have nowhere to go he lets them stay, reluctantly at first, but finds he does enjoy their company -- and the joy that pervades their lives.
Tarek is arrested and placed in a detention centre; Walter is his only contact, as Zainab cannot go there and risk being found out. Tarek's mother, Mouna [Hiam Abbass], arrives from interstate and moves in with Walter; as with Zainab, she cannot go in to the detention centre, so Mouna also relies on Walter's visits to provide information on the state of her son, whom she only can talk to via phone.
Superb performances by the cast: Richard Jenkin's character awakens to life, and what it can offer, in a most wonderful and subtle way; Haas Sleiman's Tarek is so full-of-life, energetic, exuberant; Danai Gurira as Zainab conveys the tiredness of the constant running and fear of illegals, as well as a quiet determination; and Hiam Abbass's Mouna is so strong elegant and strong, and gives such a heart-felt performance, you cannot help but be moved.
There is so much to talk about with this movie: I won't talk about illegals and detention facilities: one because this was set in America and I am not a resident there; and two, we have enough issues here in Oz, and I enough complaints about how things are run here without pointing the finger at other countries. You can probably tell however that I swing rather to "the left" on this issue. :)
I found it interesting that, leaving aside the world of illegals, Walter was seemingly a stranger, a visitor, to multicultural society. As I have probably mentioned in earlier ramblings, given where I have grown-up, multicultural society is ntaural to me. I cannot envisage not living in such a world: it is simply what I know. Not that that "makes me better" than anyone who doesn't; we all live in different environments. And I need to understand this as much as anyone: when people come out with comments or statements I may disagree with, particularly in terms of immigration [which seems to have been, and continues to be, a hot topic], I need to seek to understand where they are coming from, realising their experiences have not been the same as mine. An obvious conclusion, but one that is often forgotten in discussions that become arguments: particularly those close to my heart.
I saw part of myself in Walter: while I do like adventure, something Walter did not at the beginning, I do have a "comfort zone" and I can be hard to move from it. And I do often feel, at times, as if life is passing me by. Yes, I do go out and see and do things, but often these are "comfortable" things, for me at least. I like to travel, but there are limits; I like to meet people, but I will not get too close at times; I like to talk, gosh I love to talk, but there are many areas I just cannot go. Having a Tarek, or two, in my life does shake it up; but I notice their absence keenly [many of my closest friends are living overseas currently] and old ways are quickly reverted to.
On that issue, the other part that particularly touched me was the impact those around you can have on you -- particuarly those whom you feel you may have nothing in common with. The very fact we are humans means we have a great deal in common, and ever where we differ we can always have something to learn. And all it often takes is someone different from us, or perhaps just someone in different circumstances or a different stage of life, to give us an entirely new lease on life. Someone who is brought into our lives, and helps make the rest of our life journey that much more interesting. Thanks be to God, I have been greatly blessed with a number of very good friends who have contributed to this, and many, many more friends and acquaintances; and this also includes those here on the Wibsite and other internet friends and acquaintances, who have had a positive impact on my life. And this is truly a priceless blessing.
Thomas McCarthy, who wrote the screenplay, also wrote the screenplay for the 2003 movie The Station Agent; I have heard there are similarities, in terms of culture clash, between the films so I may see if I can try and find it.
The Visitor and the German film Nothing But Ghosts (Nichts als Gespenster) are the two films that, not only this year but I'd say over the past few years, have moved and challenged me the most. And left me not only feeling so drawn into the lives of the characters, but seeing myself clearly reflected in one or more of the characters: an experience that while extremely interesting and fulfilling, can also be rather disconcerting -- particularly where faults and flaws are present and obvious.