The Band’s Visit (2008)

One of those movies I bought simply because the cover looked interesting. Of course that sometimes can be a risky thing to do, but you have to take a gamble sometimes. This movie is about an Egyptian police band who are invited to play at the opening of a cultural centre in Israel.

Unfortunately for the band the information they have about the location they are supposed to go is incorrect and they end up stuck in a small town with no chance to get back till the next day. With hardly any money they meet a couple of people at a restaurant who take them under their wing and make sure they have a place to sleep. The band leader tries to keep his musicians under control, but as they split up he has to hope everything will go fine. He himself goes with the owner of the restaurant, a beautiful woman who decides to go out with him.

This is a movie where not a whole lot happens, but where you are won over by the charming situation and the acting of the cast. The band leader is someone who has specific demands for everyone in the band, but as he goes out with the woman also shows another side. Although this isn’t a laugh out loud comedy, it does have its funny moments. One is of one of the musicians trying to help the person he’s staying with being succesfull on a date. It’s a movie you don’t mind spending some time with as you kind of feel you are part of the band, wanting to find out how they will solve their problems and if they will reach their goal.

Score: 7