Summary/Response to "The Terminal"

Summary

“The terminal” is a motion film made in 2004, which was directed by Steven Spielberg. In the film Viktor Navorski, a character portrait by Tom Hanks, arrived at JFK International Airport in New York City and was denied to enter United States due to the revolution in his fictional home country in Eastern Europe called Republic of Krakozhia. The revolution had made Viktor’s passport invalid while he was on airplane since the country that issued his passport technically no longer existed.

Viktor unable to enter United States or to go back to Krakozhia, since he was not qualified for refugee status or temporally protective status or technically even a citizen of any country, was told to stay at International transit lounge of JFK International Airport by Customs and Boarder Protection Head Frank Dixon who is portrayed by Stanley Tucci.

Without ability to speak English or any money to spend, Viktor have to learn how to survive in foreign country. By self-teaching English at bookstore in terminal and interacting with various airport workers from different background, Viktor learns how to survive and function in American society.

Response

Even though America was built by immigrants, it seems like American’s attitude towards immigrants has changed. The film shows technological advance and more sophistication in society has created solid, concrete rules which also made it hard to help or to do something when a person fall between crack of those rules.

Also freedom to pursuit wealth has made certain people, in this case Frank Dixon, only think in “right” or “wrong” and compete for high paying job which makes it not affordable to make any sort of mistakes if you want keep going up in social status.

Lack of English ability takes big part in this film as well. In order to understand your surrounding and culture, being able to understand language is one of the most important key elements to have.

The location, JFK Airport, was particularly interested me and was also important element in this film. Airport is a place people have to go through regardless of your social status, ethnicity, or background. I also do understand that airport has to have concrete, solid rules since it is gateway of a nation.