Obsessed With Film

Posted by Michael Edwards

Available at Amazon for £9.98

A simple and understated Israeli film, a rare treat in a cinematic period rife with political polemics, The Band’s Visit tells the story of an Egyptian police band that visits Israel to perform in the cultural centre of a small town. It’s a visit which, as the introduction so graciously informs us, few people remember any more. Shot with the detached wry humour exhibited so expertly by directorial talent such as Roy Andersson, The Band’s Visit captures some of those wonderful little moments in life that capture the everyday frustrations life in Israel, Egypt and across the globe are rife with. And these are just the beginnings of my high praise for Eran Kolirin’s debut feature.

As you might expected, medium long shots, sapped pastel colours and dry wit are the order of the day but it doesn’t disappoint. Framed in such a manner, the Police Band set out in search of the newly founded Arab Culture Centre but get lost along the way and end up staying with some hospitable families in a small Israeli town. There Sasson Gabai’s Lieutenant-colonel bristles with the uthority and confidenece of a bygone age, his glory only fading as he confides his family strife to his Israeli host, a woman with a few problems of her own. Together with the rest of the cast the form a collection of constantly witty, eminently empathetic and thoroughly engaging characters with whom even the most experienced director would be proud.

But it is the subtle undertones that make this film more than an enjoyable piece of comedy. Exhibiting only one overt reference to Arab Israeli conflicts (I’ll leave you to spot that) it manages to infuse the director’s meaning through the real interactions between his characters. The little insights, outlets and influences these people bring to each other speak volumes about the universality of much of day-to-day life in a way that many films could only dream.

My only criticism is that there are no extras at all on this DVD. I would have loved a directors’ commentary, or even a bog standard ‘Behind the Scenes’ thingy to get an idea of the concepts behind and the chemistry within this production. But alas, such things are saved for tripe like Meet the Spartans and Transformers.

What a world we live in.

The Band’s Visit is out on DVD in the UK now.

categories - DVD Reviews, Movie News, The Band's Visit

Further Reading

• How to fight cancer & have a part in IRON MAN 2!

• A little downtime on the site

• Jodie Foster & Abigail Breslin want to visit Nim’s Island

• Scott Glosserman to visit the Playing House

• Predator gets double teamed in Aliens vs. Predator

No Comments »

There are no comments yet. Head on over to our FORUM instead... although chances are there ain't much happening there either. Start a new topic or something, maybe one day it'll take off.

Leave a comment