The Visitor

"In a world of six billion people, it only takes one to change your life. Sixty-two-year-old Walter Vale is sleepwalking through his life. Having lost his passion for teaching and writing, he fills the void by unsuccessfully trying to learn to play classical piano. When his college sends him to Manhattan to attend a conference, Walter is surprised to find a young couple has taken up residence in his apartment. Victims of a real estate scam, Tarek, a Syrian man, and Zainab, his Senegalese girlfriend, have nowhere else to go. In the first of a series of tests of the heart, Walter reluctantly allows the couple to stay with him. Touched by his kindness, Tarek, a talented musician, insists on teaching the aging academic to play the African drum. The instrument's exuberant rhythms revitalize Walter's faltering spirit and open his eyes to a vibrant world of local jazz clubs and Central Park drum circles. As the friendship between the two men deepens, the differences in culture, age and temperament fall away. After being stopped by police in the subway, Tarek is arrested as an undocumented citizen and held for deportation. As his situation turns desperate, Walter finds himself compelled to help his new friend with a passion he thought he had long ago lost. When Tarek's beautiful mother Mouna arrives unexpectedly in search of her son, the professor's personal commitment develops into an unlikely romance. And it's through these new found connections with these virtual strangers that Walter is awakened to a new world and a new life..."

now there's a description of the film as seen through "yahoo movies" eyes. your basic outline.
I just wanted blog a sec about the film and situation it displays. I'll be the first to admit that i am sometimes impatient and unforgiving in the area of illegal aliens and people who are living here and havent gone through all the "hoops" in order to be legal. But i'll admit a subtle change in my heart after watching this movie (which happens to be selected several times for several film fesitvals, including sundance) anyways... i understand the purpose in which this movie was made and it was in fact created for the purpose of changing peoples opinions and giving them another point of view. sometimes, due to being "removed" from the situation we cant fully grasp it enough to even form an opinion. and that is where i am at fault.

i will say that there are those folks who come into this country and never have plans of becoming a citizen, want to come, make money and then reutrn to their countries rich and having tasted the american way and then there are others, that come, for change for oppurtunity, curiosity or even because of family or friends. they are looking for a better life (just like those who traveled to ellis island etc). i think because of a few "bad" ones, we, born into america, american families, born and bread blah blah, we see the immigrants as intruders. it's the same was with christians, all it takes for a person to form an opinion about christians are a handful of crazies or over zealous hostile t.v. preachers, then the true born again christians, get grouped into that mess. likewise, i underestimated the power of one single person in anothers life. just like tarek in walter's life.

i am no public speaker, or am i well spoken representative of nations or even an author who has researched the immigration issues and/or policies, but i do represent the average american young adult. i agree that it is essential for our leaders to protect us from any threats, but i see that after certain events, our brains have been tweaked to make judgments according to "bad" ones. i wont do this anymore, or at least i will try. every person has been created in the image of God, if that is so, then each person matters individually, America may not be perfect, and trust me, while i would jump on the next plane to go live in Australia, i do believe that the U.S. does offer to people from around the world, chances to enhance their lives, and i dont think its fair for us to interfere anymore. people are precious.

one of the main problems facing India today, is the caste system. the people that are born into the lowest caste are made to feel like they are nothing, they are told that they are worthless and that they dont even have a soul. almost like they are animals or things. there is no "climbing up the caste ladder system for them". so then comes the point. if you believe that you are worth nothing, and that you are nothing, then why worry about personal hygiene or health. why worry about education, why worry about personal thought or opinion. so when people come in and tell them that they are created in God's image, like i said earlier. i can totally see how it could blow their mind. like "i am made in god's image?" "i am special?" "i have a soul?"...

i think it's necessary for us, even as christians to keep an open mind, to excercise grace and understanding, and above all, compassion. compassion for those who are searching for a meaning and for a purpose. some believe they will find it within our u.s. borders and i think it would be Jesus' desire for us to have this compassion for them in this venue also.

pick up the movie ($1.06 at an redbox) and give it a looksy. open your mind and your heart

goodnight