This Movie is Rated PG-13 – For Brief Strong Language
Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) is an Economics professor at a college in Connecticut. He lives alone, his wife died and his adult son lives in London. He has been teaching the same course for twenty years. Has written three books and is working on his fourth. However, it feels like he isn’t really living his life, but just going through the motions.
He is sent by his college to New York City to present a paper at a conference. Walter keeps an apartment there, although he hardly ever stays in it. Imagine his surprise when he discovers that a couple is living there and has been for the past two months.
After some very tense moments Tarek (Haaz Sleiman) and Zainab (Danai Gurira) realize that it is indeed Walter’s apartment. They apologize and agree to leave. After he sees that they don’t have anywhere to go he offers to let them stay in his extra room until they find another place.
It turns out that Tarek is a very upbeat and friendly guy, whereas, his girlfriend Zainab isn’t and is much more guarded and wary around Walter. Zainab designs jewelry and sells it at a street market. Tarek is a musician. He plays the Djembe drum. Tarek invites Walter to his gig at a local jazz club. Walter ends up really enjoying himself and finds that he is drawn to the drums.
Tarek offers to teach him how to play. It takes a bit for Walter to learn to let go and just play what he feels instead of thinking about it too much. Tarek is a very encouraging and patient teacher. The scene when he is teaching him to play for the first time is just lovely. To encourage Walter, Tarek takes him to a drum circle in the park. It takes a bit of encouragement, but he finally decides to join in and ends up having a great time.
Unfortunately, things go downhill after that. Due to a misunderstanding at the subway station Tarek ends up getting arrested. This is when Walter finds out that Tarek is from Syria and Zainab is from Senegal; they are both in the country illegally. After the police discover that he doesn’t have a green card Tarek ends up being sent to a detention center with the possibility of being deported.
Walter has grown fond of the couple and wants to try to help Tarek, plus he feels kind of responsible for him getting arrested in the first place. So he hires an immigration attorney to help sort out the situation. He also visits him at the detention facility since Zainab can’t go without possibly being detained as well. Through Walter’s eyes we experience what it is like for the detainees, the uncertainty of the situation and the heartbreak of being separated from your family.
This is a very moving film. At times it is very uplifting and at others it is very depressing. The whole issue of immigration is so complicated. However, the movie reminds us that there is a human cost involved when decisions are made about this issue and that it needs to be taken into consideration.
Richard was excellent as Walter (you might recognize him from “Six Feet Under“). He gave a very moving performance. Haaz was equally fantastic as Tarek. He has such a wonderful spirit that just lights up the screen. They had terrific chemistry together. They really made you believe that their characters actually could strike up a friendship even though they had very different lives.
The drumming in the movie was fabulous. Haaz had never drummed before so he took lessons and practiced two hours every day in order to learn how. Richard played the drums for five or six years when he was younger, so he had a bit of a head start. I was very impressed with both of their playing.
Some of my favorite quotes:
Tarek – “Sorry about the pants. I … I’ve been practicing like this since I was a kid.”
Tarek – “You know you are very sexy when you are mad at me.”
Tarek – “I was lying on my bed listening to my music, and then I was, like … what’s that crazy rhythm I’m hearing?”
Tarek – “Now, Walter, I know you’re a very smart man, but with a drum you have to remember not to think. Thinking just screws it up, okay?”
Tarek – “Not so hard. You’re not angry at it.”
Tarek – “O, sh*t. We have to get home. Zainab’s gonna kill me. I’m on Arab time again.
Walter – “What is Arab time?”
Tarek – “It means I’m late by an hour. All Arabs are late by an hour. It’s genetic, we can’t help it.”
Tarek – “There are no terrorists in here. The terrorists have money. They have support. This is just not fair.”
Tarek – “I just want to live my life and play my music. What’s so wrong about that?”
Mouna – “You look cool.”
Walter – “Cool?”
Mouna – “Yes. You’re very cool Walter.”
Jan
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It was so sad when Tarek was deported. It happened so suddenly and no one even got the chance to say goodbye or anything. Poor Zainab will most likely never get to see him again and she is just devastated. Walter tried so hard to do everything to help keep him in the country but to no avail. He is so frustrated and doesn’t understand how such a good man could be treated like this. It was absolutely heartbreaking.
The final scene with Walter playing Tarek’s Djembe drum in the subway station was so fitting. It was a way to honor Tarek since it was a place he always wanted to play but never had the opportunity to. Plus the physical act of drumming so passionately is probably very cathartic for him.
Tags: danai gurira, djembe, drums, dvd, haaz sleiman, immigration, movie, review, richard jenkins
Chemistry Hub…
[...] They had terrific chemistry together. They really made you believe that their characters actually could strike up a friendship even though they had very different lives. The drumming in the movie was fabulous. … [...]…