The Band's Visit

My Rating

(out of 5 envelopes):

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 87 minutes

Genre: Foreign, Comedy, Drama

I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen very many Israeli films, if any. Both touching and funny, this one certainly makes a good first impression.

The Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra takes a trip from Egypt to Israel in order to play at the opening of an Arabic cultural center. However, the arranged transportation fails to show. So instead they must find their own way there. The band boards a bus to a town with a similar-sounding name, and becomes stranded there. The town is in the middle of the desert and there is nowhere for the band to stay. However, the woman who owns the restaurant and then two men who occupy the tables out front of the restaurant take them in for the night.

Keep in mind, this is one of those slice of life movies, so don’t expect too much action in this one. The movies tagline says it all, “Once-not long ago-a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this...It wasn't that important.” It’s just people of one culture interacting with people of another. It’s simple, yet it shows that in every culture there is loneliness, love, loss, and joy. The characters are all realistic, complex human beings, who you get to know more of as the film goes on.

Comedy-wise, my favorite scene is when Haled, the young ladies-man of the band, accompanies one of the men he met at the restaurant, who happens to be quite awful with the ladies, to the local roller rink. His date begins to cry and he has no idea what to do. Haled decides to help him which results in a really cute and funny scene in the movie.

As far as serious moments goes, the one that stuck in my mind the most is when the band member who wrote an unfinished concerto is sitting a room with the man who he’s staying with and his child. He then gives him solemn advice on how to finish his concerto after all of these years (I don’t want to spoil it).

The music in the film was beautiful. I loved the hauntingly beautiful unfinished concerto. It went perfectly with the shots of scenery shown while it was playing. The song in the last scene was the perfect end to the film. I just wish there was more music in the film since it was so magnificent.

Netflix Page for The Band's Visit