http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857191/

For anybody who likes watching off-beat movies (not arthouse or absurd cinema), "The Visitor" provides a pleasant movie watching experience. It revolves around an economics professor, who lives his mundane routine life. He goes to New York to attend a conference and finds a refugee couple (Syrian guy and Senegalese lady) living in his apartment. Instead of kicking the couple out, he lets them live in his apartment for few days. They become friends and the guy teaches the professor how to play the drum.

One day, the guy gets caught while entering a subway station and is sent to refugee camp. The efforts that professor puts to get the guy out of the camp forms the crux of movie.

The best part of the movie is that even though this is a Hollywood movie shot in US, it avoids all the stereotypes, cliches or jingoism attached with run-of-the-mill Hollywood movies. With the presence of Syrian and Senegalese characters, the movie gets a "universal feel". The movie mainly deals with change in US government's attitude towards refugees after WTC attacks.

The direction, editing and acting by lead cast are commendable. Richard Jenkins, who plays the professor's role, was nominated for Oscar awards for this role.

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Originally posted by meghal

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0857191/

For anybody who likes watching off-beat movies (not arthouse or absurd cinema), "The Visitor" provides a pleasant movie watching experience. It revolves around an economics professor, who lives his mundane routine life. He goes to New York to attend a conference and finds a refugee couple (Syrian guy and Senegalese lady) living in his apartment. Instead of kicking the couple out, he lets them live in his apartment for few days. They become friends and the guy teaches the professor how to play the drum.

One day, the guy gets caught while entering a subway station and is sent to refugee camp. The efforts that professor puts to get the guy out of the camp forms the crux of movie.

The best part of the movie is that even though this is a Hollywood movie shot in US, it avoids all the stereotypes, cliches or jingoism attached with run-of-the-mill Hollywood movies. With the presence of Syrian and Senegalese characters, the movie gets a "universal feel". The movie mainly deals with change in US government's attitude towards refugees after WTC attacks.

The direction, editing and acting by lead cast are commendable. Richard Jenkins, who plays the professor's role, was nominated for Oscar awards for this role.

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