THE VISITOR

I try to see as many good movies in theatres as I can in a year, but inevitably a few get past me. THE VISITOR is one such flick.

It’s a subtle movie, about a university professor named Walter Vale (played by Richard Jenkins, from TV’s “Six Feet Under”). Walter knows deep down that he wants more from his life, but can’t seem to find the right way to express it. His whole situation takes a turn one day when he walks into the apartment he maintains to find a young couple living there. As the misunderstanding gets sorted out, Walter slowly finds himself taking a shining to the couple. With their help, and through a new found passion for playing the djembe, Walter starts to give his life some passion.

The best thing about Walters character, is the way he embraces the situation like a real person would. There’s no montage of him dressing and acting more and more like his new friends…it’s a slow and genuine progression. Walter doesn’t jump into the water, he tiptoes through the shallow end – which is how so many of us would approach new passions.

The plot takes a turn that I don’t want to get into, but I will say that this unexpected direction gives the story and the characters real weight and turns a simple story into something truly lasting.