Synopsis

Professional actor and the director of The Station Agent, Tom McCarthy ’s second film, The Visitor is a moving piece that serenely presents the awakening of a middle-aged man after his encounter with illegal aliens while quietly critiquing America’s policy on immigrants after 9.11. When Connecticut college professor, Walter returns to his little-used apartment in New York on a trip to attend an academic conference, he discovers two young men whom he had never met residing there to his dismay. Syrian, Tarek and Senegalese, Zainab were illegal aliens conned into renting his apartment. Feeling sorry for the two who had no place to go, he offers them to stay with him on a whim, and the three develop a special friendship. After a long time of living in seclusion after his pianist wife passed away, these two guests bring major change into Walter’s life. Enchanted by the African drum Tarek played, he learns to play the drum from the younger man through which he rekindles a passion he had lost for years. Unfortunately, Tarek is detained at a temporary repatriate reception center after being arrested during a patrol questioning. And as Walter struggles to free the younger man, Tarek’s beautiful mother, Mouna appears in front of him. It is truly a delightful discovery to see a warmhearted film such as The Visitor amongst all the recent films filled with murder, violence and hatred. Veteran character actor, Richard Jenkins plays Professor Walter who hides a warm heart behind his expressionless face. His delicate performance in this film already has him mentioned as a Best Actor nominee for the Academy Awards. The film had it US premiere this April on four screens which jumped to 270 screens and is still running with rave reviews. (Chung Woochung)

감독

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  • 톰 맥카시
  • 배우이자 영화감독으로 1966년 미국 뉴저지에서 출생했다. 배우로서 <아버지의 깃발>, <시리아나>, <굿나잇 앤 굿럭>, <이어 오브 더 독>, <미트 페어런츠> 등에 출연했으며 최근에는 피터 잭슨 감독의 <러블리 본즈>과 루카스 무디슨 감독의 <매머드>에 출연했다. 2003년에 연출과 각본을 맡았던 <스테이션 에이전트>로 감독 데뷔했으며 이 작품은 선댄스, 산세바스 티안, 스톡홀름 등 세계 주요 영화제에서 수상하며 큰 주목을 받았다.