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The Visitor Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Connection is everything.

Portrait of Amy Renner Amy Renner

Last modified: Feb. 10, 2009

The Visitor

Release Date: Friday, April 11, 2008

Director: Tom McCarthy

Starring: Richard Jenkins Hazz Sleiman Hiam Abbass

PG-13 Drama 1 hr, 48 m

33% 67%

Plot – What's the story about?

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Plot
In a world of six billion people, it only takes one to change your life.

Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) is a lonely man. Having lost his wife, as well as his passion for teaching and writing, he’s merely going through the motions. He fills his empty days by trying (unsuccessfully) to play classical piano. When the college where he teaches sends him to attend a conference in Manhattan, Walter returns to the apartment he once shared with his wife … and is startled to discover that a young couple is living there!

Victims of a real-estate scam, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman, “Veronica Mars,” “24”), a Syrian man, and his Senegalese girlfriend Zainab (Danai Gurira, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” the upcoming Ghost Town) have nowhere else to go. Reluctantly, Walter allows them to stay with him – and thus begins an amazing, emotional journey for all of them.

Touched by Walter’s generosity, Tarek, a talented musician in his own right, insists on teaching Walter to play the African drum. This shared love of music deepens their friendship, with the differences in culture, age and temperament falling away.

But when Tarek is arrested for being an undocumented resident and held for deportation, Walter is spurred into action, taking up his friend’s cause with a passion he thought was long gone. When Tarek’s beautiful mother, Mouna (Hiam Abbass, The Nativity Story, Munich), arrives in search of her son, Walter’s personal commitment develops into an unlikely – and unexpected – romance.
Drama

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Who stars in The Visitor – Cast List

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Who is making The Visitor – Crew List

A look at The Visitor behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Tom McCarthy last helmed Stillwater and Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made. The film's writer Tom McCarthy last penned Stillwater and Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.

Screenwriter
Production Companies

Production – What we know about the The Visitor

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Movie Filming Timeline: Production Status Updates

Completed

Changed The Visitor movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

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Additional Information

Parent Rating
PG-13 Parents Strongly Cautioned for brief strong language
Runtime
1 hr, 48 m
Tagline
Connection is everything.
Also known as
Not available
Language
English
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The Visitor Trailers and Clips

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The Visitor

Theatrical Trailer

The Visitor Release Date: When was the film released?

The Visitor was released in on Friday, April 11 , 2008. There were seven other movies released on the same date, including Prom Night, Street Kings and Smart People.

The Visitor DVD & Blu-ray Release Date

The Visitor is scheduled to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on . Availability may vary by region. Pre-order your copy of The Visitor today on Amazon.

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  • United States

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On DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Release

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  • No digital purchase or rental options are available yet.


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  • Added the tagline: "Connection is everything."

  • Added the Blu-ray release date of October 7, 2008

  • Added a synopsis

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