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When it comes to indie films, I could not be a bigger fan. They
usually deal with real people, real life, and real emotions, and
in my opinion, they are so much better than those tiring blockbusters
that are inexplicably everywhere now, no offense. The Band's Visit
is no exception, because it's a very original cross between class/cultural
distinctions, and road movies, but with a real twist that is very,
very touching. It's an extremely great movie that also makes you
think about everything from love to life, and music to bonding.
This is another example of why people should give indie films a
chance, and I'm sure when they do, they'll be very surprised of
what they're missing.
The story concerns a down-on-their luck Egyptian band who arrive
to play at the famed Arab Cultural Center in Israel, but with a
twist of fate, they end up on the wrong bus, and they find themselves
in a desolate village. Since they have no options, they spend the
night with the local citizens, and they eat in a restaurant owned
by a kind woman named Dina, who also invites them to stay the night
at her friends' apartment, since they are no hotels. Sooner or later,
that very night changes for all of them, and the band realizes the
power that life can bring. They also form special bonds along the
way on their journey.
 The film was extremely well-received with critics around the world,
calling it one of the ten best films of the year, and legendary
film critic Roger Ebert was so impressed that he gave it his highest
rating: four stars. It was almost selected into the Best Foreign
Language Film category of the Oscars, but unfortunately it was rejected
by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences because more
than over 50% of the dialogue was actually in English, instead of
Arabic and Hebrew, so Israel sent another movie instead.
It is a modern film, but it's very rare for a film to be so inspiring,
and when we see it at first, we think that it's going to be another
one of those boring find-sense-of-self movies, but this film definitely
changes our minds. The acting, especially by Sasson Gabai and Ronit
Elkabetz, is nothing short of pure excellence, and the comical situations
are really awkwardly, and hilariously honest. A true film should
grab our attention throughtout its entire running time, and also
make us think about it for quite awhile, even after the credits
roll, and The Band's Visit does just that, nails it perfectly. It
also manages to speak out about political turmoil, but with an analogical,
and intriguing spin.
 Presentation
For a film just made last year, it certainly looks and
sounds very well. The 5.1 Dolby Digital stereo really acctuates
the tone of the film. The film's 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio
captures everything in grand detail, and includes English, and
the original Hebrew and Arabic languages, as well as the common
English subtitles.
Extras
The only extras that are on the DVD include The Band's
Visit: Making the Fairy Tale, a featurette, obviously about the
making of the film, and includes interviews with the cast and crew.
The other special features are a photo gallery, the original theatrical
trailer, and previews of other films apart of the Sony Pictures
Classics library, inlcuding Perspolis, Married Life, Vitus, My
Kid Could Paint That, and Moliere.
Final Thought
If you enjoy a really good film that is worthy of your
time, and money, then you should include The Band's Visit, one
of the very best films in years, in your DVD library.
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