Putting a Face on the Immigration Debate

On May 14, I mentioned that if I got a chance to see a new film called The Visitor, I would post a review. I finally caught it this weekend at the West Shore Theatre. The main character, Walter Vale, is a mid-career college professor at a small Connecticut college whose wife has died. He slips into depression over her passing and is living on autopilot. When he is sent by his department chair on an errand to New York, he discovers a couple living in the apartment he has owned for 25 years but not visited since his wife's death.

The couple he finds living there are illegal immigrants. After Walter allows them to stay a few days until they can find a new place, Walter is slowly brought out of his shell in his relationship with this young couple.

This a very touching movie. It thoughtfully depicts both the positive things we gain from interacting with those who are different from ourselves and how fragile life can be for those living among us without legal status.

One side of the immigration debate in this country is adamant that those who have entered this country illegally have broken the law. This film shows what a loss it is to lose those who have such potential to enrich our lives. It should be out on DVD this fall and would definitely make a fascinating discussion starter on how to address the broken immigration system we currently have in place in this country.