The Band's Visit
Thursday–Sunday
March 8–11
Davies Theatre
6 + 8:30 pm
The Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrives in Israel to play at the opening of an Arab Cultural Center. Dressed in full regalia and observing all military police protocol, the members of the orchestra are at a pivotal time in their careers. It’s not just the political nature of an Arab military police band playing traditional Arab music in Israel that makes the event so important; budget cuts and reorganizations have threatened the continued existence of the orchestra. The stoic orchestra leader (Sasson Gabai) is determined not to foul up the sensitive visit — but it gets off to the worst possible start when the band arrives with no one to meet them. Stranded and unable able to contact their Israeli hosts or the Egyptian consulate for help, the orchestra ends up in the middle of nowhere, on the outskirts of a small forgotten town in the desert. The various residents of the desolate Israeli village take pity on the lost Egyptians and invite them to spend the night.
“This lovely, smart and beautifully understated film is at the center of the annual debate
over how moronic the Motion Picture Academy’s rules are for foreign films,” reported the San Francisco Chronicle. “The film was rejected for consideration in that category because it has too much English in it. Of course, the only reason the Egyptians and the Israelis speak English from time to time is because it’s the only language they have in common.”
Sponsored by the University Activities Commission of the Student Senate
Admission is free at the door with a Blugold Card or an International Film Society membership. Community members may buy an individual IFS membership for $4; a family membership costs $10. The annual memberships are available at the Service Center, 715-836-3727, in Davies Center’s east lobby.
FILM INFORMATION
Israel + United States + France 2007
87 minutes
Color
In English, Arabic + Hebrew subtitled in English
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Directed by Eran Kolirin
