The Band's Visit

     After a long time I am writing a blog. It’s not like there were no instances where I felt like writing, but after so many days, I now got the time to do it.

     

     Last two days was a marathon of different movies for me. I was occupied in my work since 1^st August and I got some time for myself three days before. And the outcome of this hectic schedule, with no time for me, was 6 movies in 48 hours and a shooting of a music video, of which the music is composed by my cousin brother, Rugved Deshpande.

     It started with “Poshter Boys” a regional, Marathi language film, a debut production of (according to me the only Hero & actor in Marathi industry) Shreyas Talpade and his wife. This one was a total commercial film. And I loved the way it was kept commercial throughout its run time. The comedy drama film was the much needed break for my stressed mind. The makers made it really well and actors yet again proved their worth in the industry here.

     Following this film I saw KICK. Words coming to my ears – ‘bhai ki film ayi hai..bhai ko dekhne jana hai, bhai rocks! Bhai! Bhai!! Bhai!!’ I wanted to see this film for this Bhaigiri that Salman Khan (Bhai) manages to pull off with his attitude. I don’t want to compare both of them on their credibility or acting  by any chance…but the image of Salman Khan in India for his fan club is like that of Robert Downey Jr. Both of them pull off the films on their attitudes. (I am talking only of the image and nothing else at all). Surprisingly, there is more to it (KICK) than just five songs, three actions sequences and two item songs in Kick. Means these things are there...along with this there are very very impressive production design, good camera work and finite use of VFX. Good work by Sajid Nadiadwala.  Even a few things in the story and Bhaigiri are good. The part in the Bar where Mithoonda and Bhai dance is the highlight of the film according to me. The paisa gets vasooled watching Mithunda dance like that at this age.

     Then was the time for my two favourites, Vishal Bhardwaj produced and Abhishek Chaubey directed, Ishqiya.

     In the evening I saw a disgusting film called – Saturday Sunday – by Makarand Deshpande. It was for that name Mac, the person who was the Sadhu (saint) with Shah Rukh Khan in his Caravan, singing ‘yun hi chala, chal rahi’, in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Swades. This film, Saturday Sunday - was a pile of Shit all over. The maker managed to fool the producer really well by using big names and fine narration to make him lend some money for this film, bringing Aamir Khan to say good things in front of media and giving this ‘just fooling around’ film a release. Amruta Subhash, the actress playing the heroine in the film was super good in her performance. Taking into consideration the overall direction of the film, it is pretty clear that Amruta Subhash is a hardcore actress, improvising her character to the fullest and playing it most efficiently.

     After that I saw two films back to back – Dil Dosti etc. and the one I liked very much – The Band’s Visit.

     The Band’s Visit, is an Israeli film and the debut film of the film-maker, Eran Kolirin. There are many ‘best’ things about this movie. I am not comparing it with any other film, but verifying it according to the own language of cinema. There are out and out better movies out there but I prefer sticking to The Band’s Visit. The first best thing about this film is – Its Simplicity. Every single thing, every single aspect of this film is kept very simple. And because of this simplicity the maker has managed to keep simple things simple and great things great.

     The plot is simple as said above. It is - An Egyptian Arab Police band is called to Israel to perform for an inauguration. And the film begins with no one comes to receive them. The problem multiplies when they find no answer from the phone number they have to contact in case of emergency. Ultimately, trying their best to keep their dignity, self-respect and ethics at the par they take resort at a restaurant and spend the next 24 hours in very calm and quite Israeli city outskirts.

     The simple characters of Tewfiq and Khaled are the best ones in the band, the owner of the shop, Dina, is very impressive & lovabale and the shy & under confident Papi also stays in mind. There are more characters, the assistant to the General Tewfiq, who stay with another guy at the night with two other colleagues, on the day of the host’s wife’s birthday. He finds an end to his half written orchestra at that house. Telling us that some things are about to end just like that…some things do end when we least expect them to end, like relations. But that is the end. That is how life makes things happen somehow. Messages as simple as this one are stored in this film.

     The best part of the movie according to me was the scene at the Skating club with Khaled and Papi. Here, Khaled helps the shy Papi to woo the girl who was his blind-date. The whole silent patch speaks a lot and tells u many things which your subconscious mind softly takes in.

So much more to talk about this film, however, the film is so short that a few good words more and you will have the screenplay of it in this review.

     2 for the performances, 3 for the silence and the simplicity and 2.5 for all the other good things, making it score 7.5/10 for all of it. I slept in peace the other night. Thanks to The Band’s Visit.