I live in a country where a lot of people are obsessed with immigrating out of the country, particularly to America. It's an endemic disease that's been passed on by past colonizers, and is unfortunately very much kept alive by today's media, trends and even food. Even I am not completely immune to this virus, when it comes to technology and innovation I always look West. Nonetheless, I feel that in the end I will always want to call this humble, humid and hospitable country my home.
It is this idea of home and love of country that really struck me with The Terminal. A first time traveller to the USA with limited English, Victor Navorsky is a Krakhozian national forced to stay in Terminal 67 of JFK after his country entered civil war while he was on air. The government has been overthrown and the new regime has not been recognized by the US so Victor's papers are moot. I can only imagine how that would feel -- a person without a place in the world.
Victor has been given several chances to sneak his way out of his predicament, both legally and not so legally but he refused. He was going to America with a purpose and he wanted to do that without compromising his position nor his beliefs. Because his country is in a state of civil war, he could have sought refuge in the US if he wanted to but he held firm, he loved his country even if it was in a state of unrest and he still wanted to come home to Krakhozia.
It's one of those movies that for me are really good because I feel so much for the movie. I am rooting so much for Victor, I am affected with the immigrants' situations and like Victor I hold my country very dear to my heart despite its flaws and shortcomings.
