The Visitor
2007 · Movie · PG-13 · 104 min · ★ 7.1 · 84% critics
A college professor travels to New York for a conference and returns to find a young couple unexpectedly living in his apartment. As distrust gives way to friendship, the professor becomes drawn into their music and their struggles in a post-9/11 climate, leading him to try to help them.
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Details
- Years
- 2007
- Release date
- 2008-02-21
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 84/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.1/10 (503 votes)
About
You’ll like this if you enjoy intimate, human dramas about unlikely friendships and post-9/11 immigration pressures, with music as a lifeline; Not for you if you want fast action or upbeat escapism like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend or Dinner in America.
Pros: soulful, character-driven drama; standout central performance; thoughtful post-9/11 relevance | Cons: slow pacing; limited surprises; heavy immigration focus
Themes
- michigan
- immigration
- illegal immigration
- drum
- search for meaning
- meaning of life
- meaningless existence
- college professor
- the meaning of life
- roommate issues
- existential crisis
Awards & recognition
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Director · 2009
- Grand prix du Festival de Deauville · 2008
- Satellite Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture · 2008
- Satellite Award — Best Original Screenplay · 2008
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 2009 · nominated
Show all 15 awards →
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Supporting Male · 2009 · nominated
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Male Lead · 2009 · nominated
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Director · 2009 · nominated
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Independent Motion Picture · 2009 · nominated
- Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role · 2009 · nominated
- Writers Guild of America Award — Best Original Screenplay · 2009 · nominated
- Critics' Choice Movie Award — Best Actor · 2008 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Original Screenplay · 2008 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Director · 2008 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture · 2008 · nominated
Cast & crew
Richard Jenkins
as Prof. Walter Vale
Haaz Sleiman
as Tarek Khalil
Danai Gurira
as Zainab
Hiam Abbass
as Mouna Khalil
Marian Seldes
as Barbara
Maggie Moore
as Karen
Michael Cumpsty
as Charles
- BM
Bill McHenry
as Darin
Richard Kind
as Jacob
- TM
Tzahi Moskovitz
as Zev
Directed by Tom McCarthy