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

46 wins & 15 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

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:

A zenekar látogatása

Filming Locations:

Negev Desert, Israel

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$67,492, 10 February 2008

Gross USA:

$3,053,823

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sasson Gabai, who plays Tewfiq in the film, reprised his role in the Broadway musical from June 26th 2018 taking over the role originally played on-stage by Tony Shalhoub. He is also scheduled to reprise the role in a future Israeli production of the musical.

---

Goofs

During one scene, a long hair or piece of fluff can be seen hanging off the boom mic and bouncing as it catches the light.

---

Connections

Features The Policeman (1971)

---

Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

A touching film about what makes us similar as humans

I liked this movie. As a viewer, I was subjected to a wide range of emotions during this film: joy, frustration, embarrassment, delight and so on.

One must understand that Israel and Egypt had been long time enemies (until the peace agreement in 1979) and that Israeli Jews and Arabs have very different views on so many matters. Within this context the humanity of the film really shines. People of such different backgrounds are basically the same; Same hopes and aspirations, same fears and frustrations etc. The same things make all of us tick.

This film is also about strangers and others. And how we can help one another. The scene with Haled and the Israeli boy and girl in the skating rink is, my opinion, classic.

enjoy