A poignant film captures the beauty of the Arab culture through its moving storyline and engaging characters, while examining immigration issues that many are being faced with today.

“The Visitor,” an honest, touching film set in New York City, centers on the character of Walter Vale, played by Richard Jenkins. Walter is a disillusioned college professor whose life is suddenly changed when he meets Tarek, a young Palestinian musician played by Haaz Sleiman.  The two men forge a quick friendship and soon Walter is exposed to Tarek’s culture through music, as the younger man teaches him to play an African drum.  The story takes a dramatic turn when Tarek, who is in the U.S. as an illegal immigrant, is stopped by police officers and arrested as an undocumented citizen.  In a quick turn of events, Tarek is held for deportation and becomes stuck in a system that offers few answers and even less hope.

The film sheds light on the harsh realities of the immigration system as Walter attempts to help his newfound friend.  Throughout the course of the film, Tarek’s friends and family are all deeply affected by his detainment, a situation that is all too familiar for many immigrants living in the U.S.  

The film carries great significance to many members of the local Arab American community who have faced similar issues, particularly post-September 11.

Nadia Fadel, Policy and Community Affairs Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) in Michigan, was among the first to view the film at a special screening last Thursday.  She said that the movie reflects the real-life stories she hears on a daily basis from people who seek ADC’s assistance.

“This film accurately identifies a major issue in the lives of many Arab Americans and the impact that their struggle has on others whose lives they touch,” she said.  “Watching this movie was like watching the lives of many Arab Americans who come through the doors of ADC.”

Through its perfectly cast characters and heart wrenching storyline, “The Visitor” manages to portray Arab Americans in an honest, compassionate light, a task that many mainstream films prior to it have failed to accomplish.  Rather than show a one-dimensional depiction of an Arab immigrant living in New York, the character of Tarek is written as thoughtful, funny, and charming, with a passion for music and a deep love for his culture.

Sleiman, who has appeared on shows like “24” and “Navy NCIS,” expressed how excited he was to play a character with such heart and a love for life.

“It was great to play a character with such depth,” he said.  “Through Tarek, I was able to reveal how wonderful the Arab culture is, how full of generosity and hospitality it is.  A lot of people are really surprised to see what our culture is like.  I wanted to show it through Tarek, because that is something that is rarely seen in film.”

The film’s producer, Thomas McCarthy, experienced the Arab culture first-hand after spending several summers in Lebanon.  There he became exposed to the true nature of the Arab people, and decided to create a film that showed their rich heritage.

What stands out about the film is that it veers away from politics and focuses on the characters as individuals facing life-altering circumstances. 

Hiam Abbass, whose film credits include “Munich” and “Paradise Now,” plays Mouna, Tariq’s mother, a woman who admirably remains strong as her son’s future is put in jeopardy.   She said that the characters’ struggles can be applied to people all over the world, not just in the U.S.

“The issues that these characters face are truly universal issues that people all over, in all different countries, have to deal with,” Abbass said.  “People of all ages and backgrounds connect to this film and its characters. It really touches people on a human level.”

“The Visitor” has been showing at special screenings and film festivals around the country, and the response to the film from Arabs and non-Arabs alike has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The power of this movie is that it makes the viewer care for the characters in a profound human way,” said Sleiman.  “The reactions to the film have been extremely positive.  After one screening at a film festival, a woman approached me and told me that she would never look at a Middle Eastern man the same way again.”

“The Visitor” opens at the Landmark Maple Art Theater in Bloomfield Hills on Friday, April 25.  The film’s trailer can be veiwed on YouTube.