Comprehensive information and links about The Terminal

The Terminal (2004The Terminal is a movie about a man trapped in an airport terminal when he is denied entry into the United States, but cannot return to his country of origin due to a revolution in his country. This film was directed by Steven Spielberg, it features Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stanley Tucci and Chi McBride. The screenplay was written by Sacha Gervasi and Jeff Nathanson, and based on a story by Andrew Niccol and Gervasi.

Some have noted that it appears to be inspired by the story of Merhan Karimi Nasseri, nicknamed 'Sir, Alfred', an Iranian refugee who has lived in Terminal One of Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris, France since 1988, when his refugee papers were stolen. However, no public materials, the DVD "special features" or the film's website ever mention Nasseri's plight as an inspiration for the film. In fact, the DVD implies that the story was so "incredible" that it leaves the viewer with the impression that the story was solely a result of the screenwriters' imagination. Another movie made in 1993,

Tom Hanks plays Viktor Navorski, a man from the fictional country of Krakozhia. While Viktor is on the plane to New York City, his country's government is overthrown and his passport is invalidated, leaving him stranded in John F. Kennedy International Airport. Over the next 9 months, Viktor is forced to live in the terminal building, unable either to set foot into the United States or to go home. He befriends the staff at the terminal, including airline stewardess Amelia Warren, whilst being under the watchful eye of Immigration Officer Frank Dixon, who wants the "Navorski problem" removed from the airport.

One day, Viktor explains to Amelia that the purpose of his visit to New York City is to collect an autograph of the jazz tenor saxophonist Benny Golson. His father, who has passed away, was a jazz enthusiast. He had discovered the "Great Day in Harlem" photograph in a Hungarian newspaper in 1958 and had written to all the people featured on the photograph, asking them for an autograph. All of them had replied, except Benny Golson. Viktor wants to collect this last one to fulfil his father's dream.

The next day, the news reports that the war in Krakozhia is over, but Dixon will still not allow Viktor to enter the United States. Amelia reveals that she had asked her "friend", actually a married government official with whom she had long been having an intermittent affair to assist Viktor in obtaining permission to travel within the U.S., but Viktor is disappointed to learn she has renewed her relationship with the man during this process. To make matters worse, Dixon needs to sign the form granting Viktor the right to remain in the United States, but refuses, instead deciding to deport him out of spite. Thanks to the timely interference of the friends Viktor has made during his stay in the terminal, he is allowed to leave the airport. As Viktor prepares to take a taxi to the Ramada Inn, 161 Lexington Avenue, in New York, where Benny Golson is performing, he observes Amelia entering a cab with her "friend," where she gives him a wistful smile. He attends the show, collects the autograph and heads back to the airport.

It is also interesting to note that when Viktor first arrives at the airport he speaks little to no English, however within the timeframe of the film, he learns to speak English by immersion and picking up Russian and English versions of a New York City tour guide and comparing the wording.

In fact, the language and location of Krakozhia is kept specifically vague in the film, keeping with the idea of Viktor being just an Eastern European. Throughout the film, it is learned that Krakozhia is bordered with Russia, that the Krakozhian language is akin to or a dialect of Russian, and that the Krakozhian national anthem is musically close to that of Albania (or the tune of Vajacki marš).

The language that Tom Hanks uses throughout the film to portray the fictional Krakozhian, is in fact Bulgarian - which Tom Hank speaks in the film with barely an accent thanks to coaching from his wife, Rita Wilson, whose father is Bulgarian.

The driving licence that Viktor holds in his hands is in the Belarusian language and is issued to a female.

Catherine Zeta-Jones - Amelia Warren, a 39 year old United Airlines flight attendant who started her job at the age of 18. For seven years, she has been involved in a relationship with Max, a married man.Stanley Tucci - Immigration Officer Frank Dixon and nemesis to Viktor. Frank is on the brink of an impending job promotion that could upgrade him to being a chief.Chi McBride - Joe Mulroy, a smart alecky baggage handler who likes smoking cigars and smuggling booze into the airport for he and his co-workers.Diego Luna - Enrique Cruz, an employee of the airport who drives the food transport truck, and the main source of Viktor's meals. He is in love with Officer Torres and marries her with Viktor's help during the time covered by the movie.Michael Nouri - Max, a married man who has been involved in a relationship with Amelia Warren for seven years.