The Band's Visit (B- or 3/4 stars)
A band of 8 members of the Egyptian police force go to Israel to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab arts center in 'The Band's Visit', an Israeli film written & directed by Erin Kolirin. However, upon arrival, they discover that they're in the wrong town. How will the local Israeli's treat their Arab 'foes'? I quite liked this film. There is obvious political tension btwn. the various characters throughout the film. But when that tension is stripped away, what we have is a low key (very), charming, unique dramedy about isolation, communication, & miscommunication btwn. 2 clashing cultures. Can't they all just get along?
The opening vision of 8 men wearing sky blue uniforms (at a bus stop) really sets the tone of the film. It's bland, spare, but also off-beat & comedic. They are the Alexandria Police Ceremonial Orchestra (and they begrudgingly repeat their title many times throughout because no one quite understands it). Unfortunately, no one from their delegation is there to meet them, nor have arrangements been made to get them to their destination, Petah Tiqva. Trapped in the desolate town of Bet Hatikvah (til next morning's bus comes), bandleader Tawfiq Zacharaya (Sasson Gabai) is forced to ask for help from restaurant owner, Dina (Ronit Elkabetz).
After some trepidation, she offers to put some of them up for the night. The rest will stay at her co-workers' home. You see, even though tension exists btwn. both groups, the residents are actually excited to have 'some' drama to break up the monotony of their lonesome lives. From here, the story livens up (a bit): the repressed Tawfiq spends an evening with Dina. Though they have completely diff't personalities, they find solace in each other's company. There's even some subdued sexual tension, there. And what of the other members of the band? Haled (Saleh Bakri) joins one of his new Israeli friends at a roller disco. He's able to teach the socially-awkward Israeli to woo (who he calls) a 'gloomy girl'; this is a very funny sequence. And the others spend the night at the home of a woman who is unhappy at their presence. This woman & her husband (co-worker of Dina) have a rocky marriage, so Egyptian guests don't help matters.
When all is said & done, the band gets to their destination. Some things occur that shouldn't have. Some don't that 'should' have. But that 1 night of special happenings was enough to better all parties involved. Most importantly, it shows that when politics isn't involved, the gap btwn. the 2 groups becomes a Hell of a lot closer. Not only do they look alike, but they share aspects of music, romance, & intelligence. They're ordinary people with ordinary dreams & disappointments. Much of the film is in silence, letting the actor's sly nuances do most of the work; and they do it extremely well. I particularly enjoyed the scenes when Tawfiq divulges his painful past to Dina. Little is said, but we get the entire scope of their characters.
Unless you have a clear intention to watch a film 'like' this, you'll most likely dismiss it as slow & boring. It's NOT, if you pay attention to its details. I'm a little surprised that the film holds back on the politics discussion. Also, the narrative needed better 'capping off'. In other words, I wanted/needed to know just a bit more about everybody. And at 81 minutes, I argue that another 10 minutes of plot was called for. Otherwise, this minimalist, small-scale comedy really does the trick. I like it's pleasant, understated melancholy. 50% of this film is spoken in English; the other half is a combo of Israeli & Arabic. I'm sad that the Academy opted not to allow this film to be up for this past yrs. Foreign Film Oscar. This, plus 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days should have been up for contention.
The opening vision of 8 men wearing sky blue uniforms (at a bus stop) really sets the tone of the film. It's bland, spare, but also off-beat & comedic. They are the Alexandria Police Ceremonial Orchestra (and they begrudgingly repeat their title many times throughout because no one quite understands it). Unfortunately, no one from their delegation is there to meet them, nor have arrangements been made to get them to their destination, Petah Tiqva. Trapped in the desolate town of Bet Hatikvah (til next morning's bus comes), bandleader Tawfiq Zacharaya (Sasson Gabai) is forced to ask for help from restaurant owner, Dina (Ronit Elkabetz).
After some trepidation, she offers to put some of them up for the night. The rest will stay at her co-workers' home. You see, even though tension exists btwn. both groups, the residents are actually excited to have 'some' drama to break up the monotony of their lonesome lives. From here, the story livens up (a bit): the repressed Tawfiq spends an evening with Dina. Though they have completely diff't personalities, they find solace in each other's company. There's even some subdued sexual tension, there. And what of the other members of the band? Haled (Saleh Bakri) joins one of his new Israeli friends at a roller disco. He's able to teach the socially-awkward Israeli to woo (who he calls) a 'gloomy girl'; this is a very funny sequence. And the others spend the night at the home of a woman who is unhappy at their presence. This woman & her husband (co-worker of Dina) have a rocky marriage, so Egyptian guests don't help matters.
When all is said & done, the band gets to their destination. Some things occur that shouldn't have. Some don't that 'should' have. But that 1 night of special happenings was enough to better all parties involved. Most importantly, it shows that when politics isn't involved, the gap btwn. the 2 groups becomes a Hell of a lot closer. Not only do they look alike, but they share aspects of music, romance, & intelligence. They're ordinary people with ordinary dreams & disappointments. Much of the film is in silence, letting the actor's sly nuances do most of the work; and they do it extremely well. I particularly enjoyed the scenes when Tawfiq divulges his painful past to Dina. Little is said, but we get the entire scope of their characters.
Unless you have a clear intention to watch a film 'like' this, you'll most likely dismiss it as slow & boring. It's NOT, if you pay attention to its details. I'm a little surprised that the film holds back on the politics discussion. Also, the narrative needed better 'capping off'. In other words, I wanted/needed to know just a bit more about everybody. And at 81 minutes, I argue that another 10 minutes of plot was called for. Otherwise, this minimalist, small-scale comedy really does the trick. I like it's pleasant, understated melancholy. 50% of this film is spoken in English; the other half is a combo of Israeli & Arabic. I'm sad that the Academy opted not to allow this film to be up for this past yrs. Foreign Film Oscar. This, plus 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days should have been up for contention.