Talking about migrants and refugees...

It's quite interesting to watch this movie, when today immigration has become such a topical theme, which gives rise to so many stupid judgements and odious measures. "The Visitor" tackles immigration through its humanside. Waleter is a disgruntled university teacher that see entering his house a couple of young illegal migrants. Opposite to his primary reaction, he will develop an attachment and will take front seat to the immigration drama when one of the young people is arrested.

The Visitor" is a beautifully crafted drama, one of those stories that narrate a social situation, and at the same time show the maturation of an external character in the process of discovering the truth of things. Richard Jenkins (whom i saw recently in the excelllent series "Olive Kitteridge"), gives a very good performance in the part of this routine-bound teacher, who's silently losing the plot, and who is going to open up to an unexpected friendship under a police context...

facing hism is Haaz Sleiman, a young Libanese actor, who is very good in the part of the young man who want to earn a living from his music and is confronted to the US bureaucracy. His love of music is contagious and will contaminate our sombre professor. His girlfriend in the movie is Dnai Gurira, who is just great (you might recognize her as she was Michonne, the girl with the saber in "The Walking Dead")

The movie plays subtly enough i think upon the links that develop between the professor and the young migrants and tackles the topic with elegance. No dramatic scenes, no crimes, no guilty folks. the young people fall victims to a rigid and rather cruel system which infantilises the new-comers and hushes their complaints. Faced with justice, Walter can do nothing but be indignant. the sublime Hiam Abbass , an israeli actress, brings a touch of romance and tragedy to this dark but very touching story.

Very good movie i think, which is not especialy vibrant, but enfolds with a sober and touching tone, and is enlightened by the meeting of cultures through music, which does not know borders. Go see it !!