Currently, the country appears caught in a malaise between enforcing illegal-immigration laws and carrying them out in a fair way.
And with "x-million" illegal immigrants living in the United States currently, there are no easy answers.
Big issues.
"The Visitor" is a wonderful film tackling big issues by focusing its attention on a small story of friendship in post-9/11 New York City.
Richard Jenkins ("Six Feet Under") stars as Walter, an economics professor who is lost.
He's lost because of the passing of his wife, his lack of interest in his own career and his students.
Lost in his life.
But, Walter finds joy again when befriending Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Jekesai Gurira) under odd circumstances.
On the surface, the friendship among the three seems unlikely.
Tarek and Zainab are in their early 20s and struggling economically, while Walter is pushing 60 and appears to live a comfortable suburban middle-class lifestyle.
But throw class, age and backgrounds out the window, and the three connect because they are simply thoughtful human beings who respect one another.
However, their friendship is threatened when "authorities" discover that Tarek is not a U.S. citizen.
His deportation becomes a real possibility and the lack of "due process" surprises Walter and the audience.
The tag line of "The Visitor" says, "You can live your whole life and never know who you are until you see the world through the eyes of others."
Walter discovers himself in the celebration of our country's diversity — through eyes of Tarek and Zainab.
But director Thomas McCarthy ("The Station Agent") splashes cold water on our faces through a stark reminder that we live in a post-9/11 world — our ideal reality and current reality are not aligned.
But Walter's reality changes for the better, which makes "The Visitor" a thought-provoking small story about big issues and the triumph of human spirit in a less-than-ideal world.
Reach the reporter at: Jeffrey.mitchell@asu.edu.
