EIFF2008: The Visitor

The next film from Tom McCarthy, director of the excellent film THE STATION AGENT, covers similar themes to his first (miserable loner attempts to isolate himself, ends up making friends with other societal misfits) but this time takes on the more serious issue of asylum seekers in America. When a teacher (Richard Jenkins) retreats to his holiday home only to find two asylum seekers living there, a chain of events is set in motion that will see both friendships and tragedies.

Like THE STATION AGENT, the film has a very measured, ponderous pacing, allowing actors and characters the room to breathe. While it perhaps lacks the moments of whimsy that endeared the earlier film to so many, there are still moments of humour in what is otherwise a darker film.

Not excellent, but very good and worth a look.