The Band's Visit with Sasson Gabai: DVD Cover
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The Band's Visit
a.k.a. Bikur hatizmoret Director: Eran Kolirin Cast: Sasson Gabai, Ronit Elkabetz, Saleh Bakri, Khalifa Natour

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  • DVD Release Date: 07/29/2008
  • Original Release: 2007
  • Rating: Rated PG13
  • Sales Rank: 19,813

Viewer Rating: (3 ratings)

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  • Overview
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Scenes
  • Customer Reviews
  • Cast & Crew
  • Full Product Details

Scenes

Features

Closed Caption; The Band's Visit: Making the Fairy Tale; Photo Gallery

Full Product Details

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Band's Visit
1. Chapter 1 [3:55]
2. Chapter 2 [1:13]
3. Chapter 3 [1:29]
4. Chapter 4 [:59]
5. Chapter 5 [1:47]
6. Chapter 6 [1:13]
7. Chapter 7 [2:54]
8. Chapter 8 [2:11]
9. Chapter 9 [6:45]
10. Chapter 10 [1:40]
11. Chapter 11 [3:05]
12. Chapter 12 [2:16]
13. Chapter 13 [4:49]
14. Chapter 14 [1:30]
15. Chapter 15 [3:08]
16. Chapter 16 [2:59]
17. Chapter 17 [3:16]
18. Chapter 18 [:53]
19. Chapter 19 [3:47]
20. Chapter 20 [4:59]
21. Chapter 21 [4:00]
22. Chapter 22 [5:11]
23. Chapter 23 [3:33]
24. Chapter 24 [4:12]
25. Chapter 25 [2:08]
26. Chapter 26 [1:20]
27. Chapter 27 [3:28]
28. Chapter 28 [8:03]

Scene Index

Editorial Reviews

When the Ceremonial Police Band of Alexandria, Egypt, journeys to a gig in Israel, they can hardly anticipate getting stuck in a rut. But upon arrival at the Israeli airport, their hosts and transportation fail to show. So begins first-time director Eran Kolirin's fish-out-of-water comedy The Band's Visit (aka Bikur Hatizmoret, 2007). Trapped in a middle-of-nowhere desert town, the group members try to figure out what to do and where to go. In desperation, two of the musicians -- conductor Tawfiq (Sasson Gabai) and playboy Haled (Saleh Bakri) -- accept an invitation from sexy café owner Dina (Ronit Elkabetz) to bunk at her residence, and seemingly within no time, the unlikeliest of interracial (Israeli-Palestinian) romances begin to blossom -- not only between Tawfiq and Dina, but between Haled and local wallflower Papi (Shlomi Avraham), whose night together at a roller disco turns into a veritable comedy of errors. Meanwhile, the remainder of the bandmembers room with local resident Itzik's (Rubi Moscovich) family, which produces overwhelming conflict and innumerable tensions. As the days roll on, the co-mingling of Egyptian bandmembers and Israeli residents imparts each individual with insights into his cultural identity and that of the others. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide All Movie Guide

Customer Reviews

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  • Ratings: 3Reviews: 2

Band's Visitby Anonymous

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August 11, 2008: 'It's the wrong time and the wrong place...' - there are so many excerpts of songs quoted in this movie and ones that stimulate memories of old songs that are very much in keeping with the title and the story, THE BAND'S VISIT (BIKUR HA-TIZMORET). A timely piece, this little film is about humanity and the possibility of communication by various means that overcome differences between cultures far better than treaties, summit meetings, and physical and verbal demonstrations. It is a thoughtful, engaging, and completely delightful success. The Alexandria Police Ceremonial Orchestra with 'General' Tewfiq (Sasson Gabai) rigidly in charge provides music for occasions, and the particular occasion for this venture is a ceremony in Israel. Flying in from Egypt well dressed in light blue uniforms to perform for the new Arab Culture Center, the small band is not met as expected at the airport. Tewfiq attempts to resolve the lack of proper greeting and transportation by reserving space on a bus - a trip that mistakenly (through problems originating in language confusion) results in the band being dropped off in a small village Bet Hatikva. Frustrated with circumstances, the band is met with genial hospitality by caf&#233 owner Dina (Ronit Elkabetz) who not only feeds them but puts the small band up for the evening. Dina has eyes for Tewfig and plans an evening out on the town with him - an evening that has its own surprises as each lonely person shares life circumstances. The other members of the band are placed in lodging with Dina's workers and at a dinner party discover similarities in their lives. Khaled (Saleh Bakri), a somewhat antagonistic ladies' man, spends an evening with a terrified young man Papi (Shlomi Avraham) on his first real date, and in the course of the evening introduces the fine art of courtship to Papi in a hilarious but touching scene. The use of English as the common language between these Arab and Hebrew speaking people adds elements of humor as well as moments of sweetness as both the band members and the Israelis grow to know and care about each other. The conversations among each separate group are delivered in Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles and this degree of modified privacy becomes almost more humorous because of the bumpy language barriers shared with the audience. Everyone grows through this short visit and by the time the band departs for their correct destination by the next morning's bus, bonds have been made that preserve the dignity of nationality while overriding the limitations of differences peculiar to each country. This is a quiet, gentle, at times very humorous little movie that offers insights of how to attain global community for us all. Writer/director Eran Kolirin deserves special recognition for assembling and molding this excellent cast for this remarkable, genuinely compassionate statement about important issues. Grady Harp

Band's Visitby Anonymous

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June 19, 2008: Band's Visit is one of the most enjoyable and fun film to come to the screen. It is about 8 members of an Egyptian Police Band. They were stranded in the Negev, trying to get to their destination. After finding a 'place in the desert', the story became more and more fun. The confusion of the stranded band members and the hospitality of the complete strangers, who took them in, fed them and helped them to finally find the destination, where they had been invited to perform, built the story up to a most entertaining ending. The background music was fitting, as was the setting. It was a pleasure to find a film, completely devoid of politics, hostility and anger. It was 100% human behavior. The subtitles appear in clear English, and there is much accented English spoken. There is no need to know the languages, it all develops into a fun escape from every day life.