Featured Audience Ratings

• Universal D

  
  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 across… More
  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 across the faces of this cast of unknowns.

• Daniel P

  
  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… More
  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 that was well lauded on the festival circuit. Definitely worth a look - reminded me of Wim Wenders for no obvious reason.

• Michael S

  
  An enormously touching slice-of-life drama that I really connected with. *more thoughts soon*

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Once-not long ago-a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this...It wasn't that important."</i> A band comprised of members of the Egyptian police force head to Israel to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab arts center,… More
  <i>"Once-not long ago-a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this...It wasn't that important."</i> 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. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> '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.

• Luke B

  
  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… More
  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 tone 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.

• Mike N

  
  [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.

• Mark A

  
  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 film… More
  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 film 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.

• Walter M

  
  [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),… More
  [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(Saleh 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]

• John B

  
  Wonderful story that no one has seen but it is worth spending the time in the world of our band of mishap from Egypt and the Israelis who must deal with them.

• Lesley N

  
  A sweet very quiet film.

• William G

  
  Modestly charming fish-out-of-water culture clash dramedy.

• Sarah P

  
  It was a movie that almost felt ashamed of itself, but in a good/weird way. It was the opposite of dramatic or flashy, but kept you captivated anyway. I liked it!

• Daisy M

  
  Israeli's movie The Band's Visit turned out to be an enjoyable and very funny movie. We saw the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra, traveling from Egypt to Israel to celebrate the opening of an Arabic cultural center. Instead, they end up in a wrong town and there was no… More
  Israeli's movie The Band's Visit turned out to be an enjoyable and very funny movie. We saw the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra, traveling from Egypt to Israel to celebrate the opening of an Arabic cultural center. Instead, they end up in a wrong town and there was no bus until the next day.Eran Kolinn, the director of this movie created an intimate portrait of lonely people coming together because of circumstances beyond their control. The movie was about a night, which changes the lives of most of those involved in it. The unhappy mood of the story never got heavy, but there were so many funny scenes that made me laugh so much.The music score was well chosen, simply The Band's Visit was a classic.

• Quinto W

  
  I know I'm always calling movies "sweet", but this one truly deserves it more than anything I have ever seen before. It is funny and the characters are all very well drawn and it is impossible not to fall in love with every single one of them.

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