Driven by Hope

Rating: 8/10 (10 July 2005)

The day I saw this Film, I had already seen Collateral. There could not be a greater contrast between two films, and I could especially appreciate that contrast, since I had only 30 minutes between the two shows. Both Films are enjoyable, for different reasons. Collateral is a masterpiece in Film-making, something akin to modern Film-Noir. It is a thrill-a-minute film, with hope suspended for its duration and fear always present. The Terminal is a film which while duly showcasing various fears about Security and Terrorism, seems to swell with Hope from the word go; Hope that the Human race may one day understand that kindness and understanding can overcome anything.
The Film deals with Victor Navorksi (beautifully played by Tom Hanks), a traveller from a (fictional) country called Krakozhia. As he arrives in New York, a civil war erupts in Krakozhia, which creates a diplomatic problem, since the American Government doesn't recognise the sovereignty of Krakozhia anymore. Navorski's passport is no longer valid and all of a sudden he is stuck between two worlds, Krakozhia and America, unable to step into either. Instead, the diplomatic impasse means that he is forced to spend his time in the Airport until his case can be sorted out. In some strange extended transit stay, Navorski literally becomes a a part of the fabric of the International Terminal, much to the anger of Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci), the guy in charge of the Airport's security. Try as he might, Dixon cant find a way to get Navorski to leave his Terminal. Meanwhile, Victor adapts to his new life and begins to 'live' in the Terminal. He meets new people, like the Airport staff, all of whom try and help him and he eventually falls for Amelia (Catherine Zeta-Jones), an air-hostess, who's in a relationship with a married Pilot and who ends up forming a special bond with Victor. We get the feeling they're soul mates - She talks, he's a patient listener. It seems like a match made in heaven. It only adds to Victor's experiences inside the Airport where he gets to see American life in a confined space, thus enjoying America while still not technically in America.
The film gives us an insight into the way Airports function in America today. There is the hovering presence of the Department of Homeland Security, the heightened post 9/11 fears about Air Travel and a slightly generalised attitude towards naive foreigners entering the USA. Navorski's story is shown compassionately and with a great deal of understanding, as are the little side stories about the Spanish Truck driver who's in love with the Immigration Officer or the Indian Janitor, who has a bit of a dark past. But the beauty is that these side stories never deflect from the main storyline, which meanders along at a slightly sedate pace, as Victor juggles his life at the Airport with his feelings for Amelia and his desire to help his new-found friends.
This film was really the perfect antidote to Collateral, which, like I said is another form of film perfection, but also a film which leaves you cold and worried about the fact that Human beings could kill so easily. Here too, humans are shown to be uncaring and cold-hearted, but there is also hope and that is what drives this film - the hope that we may all understand each other one day.