THE BAND’S VISIT

Israel, 2007, 90 minutes, Colour.
Sasson Gabai, Ronit Elkabetz.
Directed by Eran Kolirin.

What if an Egyptian police band turned up to the wrong Israeli town to play at the inauguration of the Arab cultural centre?

A pleasing premiss for a light story of friendship and understanding. Director Eran Kolirin remembers his past when there was such a visit, the days when families in Israel used to watch soap operas from Egypt on TV. He also says that the question for this part of the world is not how peace can be achieved but, more deeply, ‘why peace?’.

As we see the band leader reminisce with the woman who owns the bar and they exchange stories, as we see the assistant conductor at home with a husband who has had an argument with his wife, as we see the young policeman coaching a gawky local how to charm a young woman at the local skating rink, something of the answer comes across in a light, often charming, way.

1.A pleasingly entertaining film? Ordinary people, situations?

2.The Israeli locations, places and people? Egyptians in Israel?

3.The visit of the orchestra, the memoirs of the director? Arab television, Egyptian films, romances? The contrast between the 80s and the present?

4.The comic style, the men and their arrival, the minibus, no-one to meet them, the man taking the photo, getting the information about the buses, the young man flirting with the attendant, the bus ride, the discussion about conducting, arrival – and nothing?

5.The conductor, his leadership, age, having to speak English, his assistant? A composer? The various men, the line-up? The mistake about the destination? The conductor making decisions?

6.The three people at the café, Nina and her friends? Friendly, the explanation, inviting them to stay, discussions?

7.The conductor and Nina, sitting in the open area, imagining it was a park, talking about fishing, Nina getting him to tell his story, his wife, his son, the death of his son, his not understanding, his wife dying of a broken heart? Nina not having children, too late?

8.The young man flirting, with the girls, easygoing manner, the skaters, dancing on the skating floor, the music, Simon and his shyness, the girl approaching for a dance and Simon’s refusing, the young man coaching him, the hand, the arm, the drink? The handkerchief? The sad girl and her response? The kiss?

9.Haled and his wife, the fight, the baby? The assistant and his playing the music, Haled explaining the music of the ordinary home?

10.The assistant phoning, the arrangements for the future?

11.Leaving, everybody waving goodbye?

12.At the correct place, playing, enjoyment?

13.The director’s statement that the important question is why should there be peace amongst Arabs and Israeli rather than how?