MES presents: The Bands Visit

“The Band’s Visit” (Biḳur ha-Tizmoret) (2007) Written and directed by Eran Kolirin, (87 minutes) Winner of seven Israeli Film Academy Awards including “Best Picture,” this uplifting comedy exposes the cultural curiosity between rural Israelis and a musical band of Egyptian policemen. The eight-man band from Alexandria came to Israel to play for the opening of an Arab cultural center. However, they took a wrong bus and ended up in a provincial town somewhere in the Negev Desert. With no transportation or hotels, band members dine at a small restaurant where the owner, Dina, invites them to stay the night at her apartment and in the restaurant. That night challenges all of the characters and lightheartedly shows their common humanity. Join us for a relaxing, comedic evening for the last Middle Eastern film of the semester!