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Sasson Gabai, Ronit Elkabetz, Saleh Bakri, Khalifa Natour, Shlomi Avraham ... see more see more... , Rubi Moscovich , Hisham Khoury , Francois Kheel , Eyad Sheety , Imad Jabarin , Tarak Kopty , Hila Surjon Fischer , Uri Gabriel , Ahuva Keren , Hilla Sarjon , Rubi Moskovitz , Uri Gavriel

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 transport... read more read more...ation 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, Rovi

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85% liked it

12,637 ratings

Critics

98% liked it

114 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Eran Kolirin

Release Date: December 7, 2007

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DVD Release Date: July 29, 2008

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Stats: 1,528 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,528)

  • moonrivers
    November 7, 2011
    moonrivers
    A trip to Israeli nowheresville by a minor Egyptian civic band is an occasion for a interesting little filmic investigation into what forces make us all tick. Everyone expects trouble ... and are pleasantly disappointed. Slowly budding revelation sparkles like light on a pond a... read morecross the faces of this cast of unknowns.
  • danperry17
    June 27, 2011
    danperry17
    A touching and considered slice of life that's kind of like those small-town-in-the-Midwest movies where everyone's in pain, except it happens in the Israeli desert, and the new guys in town are a police band from Egypt. A lean film, but one that still takes its time, and one tha... read moret was well lauded on the festival circuit. Definitely worth a look - reminded me of Wim Wenders for no obvious reason.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    April 23, 2011
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    An enormously touching slice-of-life drama that I really connected with.

    *more thoughts soon*
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    January 14, 2010
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Once-not long ago-a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this...It wasn't that important."

    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... read more lost in the wrong town.

    REVIEW

    'The Band's Visit' is a cinematic breath of fresh air in a market overwrought with cine dreck. It tells the story of an Egyptian Police band that has gone over to Israel for a concert at an Arab cultural centre, only to find that they have ended up in the wrong town. In a period of 24 hours, they manage to establish friendships among some of the town's off beat residents. It shows that despite cultural differences between Arabs and Jews, they manage to (for the most part) rise above prejudices and make the most of an awkward situation. Major kudos to the film's writer/director for forging a finely tuned story, as well as a cast to act out their parts equally well. This film may remind you at times of some of the tongue in cheek comedies of Aki Kaurismaki.
  • kiriyamakazou
    February 7, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    The film opens with the following title card "Once-not long ago-a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this...It wasn't that important." For a film to admit it's simplicity and uneventful story before it has even started is both brave and also sets the ... read moretone of comedy throughout. The film looks at how in just one night the band change the lives of the locals, just ever so slightly and vice versa. The humour is gentle and stays towards that of the chuckling variety. It's superbly acted and wonderfully shot, capturing a small Israeli town in all it' glory. It's a very good film, with some superb moments of bonding between characters. It really shines through in the delicate dialogue and fragile emotions of the characters.
  • michaelneumann
    January 7, 2009
    michaelneumann
    [img]http://atuleirus.weblog.com.pt/arquivo/Olbinski%20-%20The%20Arbitrary%20Change%20Of%20The%20Season.jpg[/img]

    I don't know if it's cloudy or bright.
  • fb1144932598
    October 4, 2008
    fb1144932598
    Quiet, interesting, little film. The action (such as there is) takes place over two days and one night. An Egyptian police band gets lost on the way to perform at an Arab Cultural Center and become the guests of the Israelis at the town where they discover their error. A sweet fi... read morelm with little to surprise in the way of plot development. However, it does illustrate that we are all human underneath our disguises. The scenes between the somewhat shy band leader Tawfiq (Sasson Gabai) and the sultry cafe owner Dina (Ronit Elkabetz) are wonderful. The initial awkwardness of two strangers trying to find some common ground gives way to the sharing of intimate details of their very different lives. I want to see more of Ms Elkabetz based on this. Worth more than three, but just not enough there to rate four stars.
  • gator681
    March 23, 2008
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]"The Band's Visit" starts with the Alexandria Police Orchestra arriving in Israel from Egypt to give a concert but confusion reigns at the bus station as to which bus they are supposed to be taking. Their fearless leader, Tawfiq(Sasson Gabai), orders Khaled(S... read morealeh Bakri) to inquire at the information booth which he does by serenading the woman working there.(I should try that some time...) Actually, it does not work out so well because they are dropped off in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, the proprietor of a cafe, Dina(Ronit Elkabetz, who was in "Late Marriage"), offers them hospitality...[/font]

    [font=Century Gothic]"The Band's Visit" is a droll comedy of manners that thankfully does not give into the temptation to condescend. In fact, the general mood is one of awkwardness as the way strangers are around people they do not know but the characters make an effort even though their countries of Israel and Egypt do not get along so well at the moment.(Language is not a problem because most everybody can speak English.) It is worth noting that Khaled, the youngest, is also the friendliest, like he is not weighted down by decades of history. For example, Dina remembers when Egyptian movies were popular around town but not anymore.[/font]
  • lesleyanorton
    June 26, 2009
    lesleyanorton
    A sweet very quiet film.
  • wbgoose13
    February 14, 2008
    wbgoose13
    Modestly charming fish-out-of-water culture clash dramedy.

View All The Band's Visit (Bikur Ha-Tizmoret) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan F. Richards
April 13, 2008
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com

The Band's Visit has pathos, but it is also very funny. Full Review

Roger Moore
April 11, 2008
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Like no fish-out-of-water film in recent memory, it leaves you with the hope that these fish will find their way back to water, and maybe learn to share that puddle before the desert dries it up entir... Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
March 14, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Kolirin has a fine sense of where to place the camera and when to cut between shots for maximum comic effect. Full Review

Ty Burr
March 14, 2008
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

It's a small, profoundly satisfying movie that keeps echoing long after it's over. Full Review

Roger Ebert
March 7, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A quiet, sympathetic film about the loneliness that surrounds us. Full Review

Jessica Reaves
March 6, 2008
Jessica Reaves, Chicago Tribune

You can watch The Band's Visit for its political idealism, or you can watch it for entertainment value alone. In either case, it doesn't disappoint. Full Review

Tom Long
February 29, 2008
Tom Long, Detroit News

You expect The Band's Visit to be a sweet little snapshot, a delightful and endearing culture-clash movie -- funny and poignant and human. And it is all those things. What's surprising is how it manag... Full Review

Colin Covert
February 28, 2008
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Sharply observed and agreeably acted, The Band's Visit doesn't soar to giddy heights, but it moves along and holds one's attention. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
February 28, 2008
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

With luck, filmgoers who discover this gem about an Egyptian police band stranded in a small Israeli town will make it the must-see movie of the season. Full Review

James Berardinelli
February 27, 2008
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

A drama about isolation and communication, The Band's Visit is characterized both by strongly delineated characters and low-key comedy. Full Review

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