The Band's Visit

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The Band's Visit

PG-13,

2008,

1h 30m,

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

98%

118 Reviews

Tomatometer

86%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

118 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The eight Egyptian musicians who comprise the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrive by mistake in a small town in Israel's Negev Desert. Their booking set for a different city, and with no transportation out of the town or any hotels to stay at, the band settles at a restaurant owned by Dina (Ronit Elkabetz), who offers them lodging. Overcoming ethnic barriers, the Egyptians find diversion and companionship with the Israelis through a pervading undercurrent of shared melancholy.

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Critics Consensus

The Band's Visit is both a clever, subtle slice-of-life comedy, and poignant cross-cultural exploration.

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Namrata Joshi

The New Indian Express

Oct 26, 2023

...ultimately cut from the same cloth, with similar feelings and thoughts, hopes and disappointments, experiencing the same loneliness, love and longing in life...

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David Stratton

The Australian

Jul 10, 2008

4.5/5

A witty, elegant and deeply affecting film.

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

Jul 10, 2008

4/5

What matters is the sense of exhilaration you take away with you.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Apr 15, 2024

4.5/5

One can only hope that this film shows the potential for what the future can hold.

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Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

Mar 22, 2021

Even without the coveted Oscar pedigree, this modest comedy has to be the most delightful and enjoyable movie now playing in local theaters.

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Toni Vall

Cinemanía (Spain)

Nov 6, 2020

2.5/5

Everything in it is telegraphed to the point of exasperation. [Full review in Spanish]

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Ron S

Aug 27, 2018

great movie, everybody should see it. A movie from another, better, world.

Aug 26, 2018

It's the most boring musical I have ever seen in my entire life. Can't believe it won in the Tony's. It is so dragging. Wasted my $150 bucks on this one.

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Anakin L

Mar 30, 2018

Can understand the Broadway musical being a hit.

Kylo P

Mar 28, 2018

Sad little movie that keeps you watching; Arabs and Jews and in some way what could be and what it is. I liked the characters, their character and personalities. Very good.

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George S

May 14, 2017

A story defying expectations and a camera that is always at the right place make for a beautiful and clever bittersweet comedy.

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Eran Kolirin

Director

Sasson Gabay

Tawfiq

Ronit Elkabetz

Dina

Saleh Bakri

Haled

Khalifa Natour

Simon

Imad Jabarin

Camal Abdel Azim

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Synopsis

The eight Egyptian musicians who comprise the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrive by mistake in a small town in Israel's Negev Desert. Their booking set for a different city, and with no transportation out of the town or any hotels to stay at, the band settles at a restaurant owned by Dina (Ronit Elkabetz), who offers them lodging. Overcoming ethnic barriers, the Egyptians find diversion and companionship with the Israelis through a pervading undercurrent of shared melancholy.

Director: Eran Kolirin
Producer: Eilon Ratzkovsky, Ehud Bleiberg, Yossi Uzrad, Koby Gal-Raday, Guy Jacoel
Screenwriter: Eran Kolirin
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: July August Productions, Dulac Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 8, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.1M
Runtime: 1h 30m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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