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Blog by Don Kennedy

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The Band's Visit

The Band's Visit (Bikur Ha-Tizmoret) is an Israeli/ Egyptian co-production that has spent the past 6 months being lauded on the film festival circuit. About the only recognizable star of this low budget charmer is veteran Sasson Gabai who we know from action roles with Stallone and Van Damme. Here again he’s in a paramilitary role albeit much more light hearted  as Lieutenant-colonel Tawfiq Zacharya a by-the-book Egyptian police commander who takes enormous pride in leading a small brass band that his higher-ups feel is superfluous. They’re desperately trying to get to an engagement at the opening of an Arab arts centre but with no room at the inn (because there is no inn) these musicians find themselves stranded in an Israeli desert town where they must rely on the kindness of the locals, many of whom seem to have memories that stretch back to the Six Day War. Most of the story revolves around Tawfiq’s budding relationship with Dina a soft hearted café owner played by the well preserved Israeli veteran actor Ronit Elkabetz who is unstoppable in her crusade to crack the shell of this bolt upright commander. Tawfiq also warms up to one of his underlings who is his exact opposite. He’s a skirt chasing, lax Muslim with a taste for whiskey who also spends time helping a shy local get busy with a female admirer. With its rib tickling unforced humour The Band’s Visit plays sweetly.

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