When he arrives at his apartment in New York, he suddenly finds people living there: Tarek Khalil, a syrian musician, and Zainab, a Senegalese street vendor. Somehow (a bit too fast in my opinion) he sympathizes with the situation of the illegal immigrants and invites the couple to stay with him. An unlikely friendship develops between the retiring, quiet Walter Vale and the vital Tarek. All goes well until Tarek is arrested by immigration authorities and threatened with deportation.

The director Tom Mc Carthy (known from his first movie "The Station Agent") could have killed the film with too much sentimentality but somehow he manages to avoid big moments and emotions which makes the story more realistic. And last but not least the quiet nuanced performance of Richard Jenkins as Professor Wale makes it worth seeing this film and the musical score by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek greatly enhances the film.

The visitor tells about cultural differences and acceptance and carries as well a political message of the post 9/11 America as far as a movie can do so.

Now playing in German movie theatres: "Ein Sommer in New York: The Visitor", USA 2007, 108 Min., R: Tom McCarthy, D: Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Gurira, Hiam Abbass.