The Band's Visit (2007)

A band comprised of members of the Egyptian police force head to Israel to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab arts center, only to find themselves lost in the wrong town.

Director:

Eran Kolirin

Writer:

Eran Kolirin

Stars:

Sasson Gabai, Ronit Elkabetz, Saleh Bakri

47 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Sasson Gabai	...	Lieutenant-colonel Tawfiq Zacharya
Ronit Elkabetz	...	Dina
Saleh Bakri	...	Haled
Khalifa Natour	...	Simon
Rubi Moskovitz	...	Itzik
Uri Gavriel	...	Avrum
Imad Jabarin	...	Major-general Camal Abdel Azim
Hilla Sarjon	...	Iris
Shlomi Avraham	...	Papi
Tarik Kopty	...	Iman (as Tarak Kopty)
Rinat Matatov	...	Yula
Tomer Yosef	...	Ars
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ahuva Keren	...	Lea
François Khell	...	Makram
Hisham Khoury	...	Fauzi

Storyline

On an ordinary day, the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrives in Israel from Egypt for a cultural event, only find there is no delegation to meet them, nor any arrangements to get to their destination of Petah Tiqva. When they find their own ride, they arrive instead at the remote town of Beit Hatikva. Stuck there until the next morning's bus, the band, led by the repressed Tawfiq Zacharaya, gets help from the worldly lunch owner, Dina, who offers to put them up for the night. As the band settles in as best it can, each of the members attempts to get along with the natives in their own way. What follows is a special night of quiet happenings and confessions as the band makes its own impact on the town and the town on them.

---

Plot Keywords:

band | police | israel | arab | egyptian | 

---

Taglines:

They came, they saw, they bridged a divide.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The town featured in the film, Beit Hatikva, is fictional and filming actually took place in the southern Israeli city Yeruham.

---

Goofs

When Tewfiq tells Khaled they have a long day tomorrow in Dina's apartment, Tewfiq is shown putting his hand on Khaled's shoulder in the shot from behind Khaled, but in the shot from the front, Tewfiq is seen holding Khaled's upper arm.

---

Connections

Referenced in Buba Shel Medina: Episode #2.1 (2013)

---

Soundtracks

My Funny Valentine
(From musical "Babes in Arms", 1937)
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart

User Reviews

Really well done

A movie that should be getting lot more press.

Enjoyable and bit quirky to see the kinds of situations people get into, that are much like we may experience anywhere else in the world.

Others have laid out the plot well and nothing more needs to be said about how the story develops.

I found two scene in this movie the kind that one must remember, rather like the many one may recall from Bogart in Casablanca.

The exchange at the phone and the scenes at the skating rink are precious and very well acted.

This is a movie I recommend seeing and then putting into memory to come back and see again and again just for the pure pleasure of a well developed comedy.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [United States]

Country:

Israel USA France

Language:

Hebrew Arabic English

Release Date:

21 March 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Band's Visit

Filming Locations:

Negev Desert, Israel

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$67,492, 10 February 2008

Gross USA:

$3,054,457

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,587,587

Company Credits

Production Co:

July August Productions, Bleiberg Entertainment, Sophie Dulac Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1