Professor Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins), a widowed economics professor at a Connecticut college, lacks motivation and seemingly just walks though life in loneliness. He begrudgingly agrees to attend an academic conference at NYU and decides to take a little extra time to work on his long overdue book manuscript.
When Vale arrives at his Greenwich Village apartment that he seldom uses, he finds a Syrian percussionist named Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his girlfriend Zainab (Danai Gurira), a Senegalese jewelry crafter. They've fallen victims to a rental scam but Vale at first thinks they are squatters. When Tarek and Zainab quickly gather their things and leave, Vale watches them on the street from the window and feels sorry for them. He calls them back and tells them they can stay on in the apartment with him until they find a place of their own.
Because Tarek and Zainab are in the USA illegally, they face difficulties in trying to find a place to live but the arrangement with Vale is working out well. Tarek is teaching Vale how to drum and Vale is finding great solice in the music and is enjoying his new friends.
When Tarek is arrested over a minor incident, he's taken to a deportation center in Queens. Zainab cannot visit him for fear of being arrested and deported, too, but Vale visits every day and consults lawyers in an attempt to get a reprieve for Tarek. Tarek's mother Mouna (Hiam Abbass), concerned that he hasn't contacted her in some time, arrives from Detroit to discover the situation. Vale takes her in and they try together to make sense of the situation and help Tarek.
A tender and touching tale in this post-9/11 era when the Patriot Act makes us all frightened for how fragile our freedom is.
Written and directed by Thomas McCarthy.
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
My personal rating: A
When Vale arrives at his Greenwich Village apartment that he seldom uses, he finds a Syrian percussionist named Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and his girlfriend Zainab (Danai Gurira), a Senegalese jewelry crafter. They've fallen victims to a rental scam but Vale at first thinks they are squatters. When Tarek and Zainab quickly gather their things and leave, Vale watches them on the street from the window and feels sorry for them. He calls them back and tells them they can stay on in the apartment with him until they find a place of their own.
Because Tarek and Zainab are in the USA illegally, they face difficulties in trying to find a place to live but the arrangement with Vale is working out well. Tarek is teaching Vale how to drum and Vale is finding great solice in the music and is enjoying his new friends.
When Tarek is arrested over a minor incident, he's taken to a deportation center in Queens. Zainab cannot visit him for fear of being arrested and deported, too, but Vale visits every day and consults lawyers in an attempt to get a reprieve for Tarek. Tarek's mother Mouna (Hiam Abbass), concerned that he hasn't contacted her in some time, arrives from Detroit to discover the situation. Vale takes her in and they try together to make sense of the situation and help Tarek.
A tender and touching tale in this post-9/11 era when the Patriot Act makes us all frightened for how fragile our freedom is.
Written and directed by Thomas McCarthy.
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
My personal rating: A
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