A droll, culture clash comedy about a group of Egyptian musicians who come to play a concert in Israel The band of the title is the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Group, which is visiting Israel to perform at the opening of an Arab cultural centre in Petach Tivka. However there are no dignitaries to greet them at the airport, and having caught the wrong bus, the Egyptians find themselves stranded in a remote town, where as a local dryly observes, "There is no culture at all."

Their uptight conductor Tawfiq (Gabai) nervously accepts a generous offer from cafe owner Dina (Elkabetz) to put him and his colleagues up for the night, there being no public transport until the next day. Tawfiq and ladies' man Khaled (Bakri) stay at Dina's flat, while the rest of the troupe are billeted around the community. Out of this scenario first-time writer-director Eran Kolirin has fashioned a beautifully acted film, which should appeal to fans of Jim Jarmusch and Aki Kaurismaki. From the outset - the opening titles read 'once, not long ago' - there's a fairy tale quality to The Band's Visit and Kolirin steers clear of politics with a capital 'P'. Instead he observes with generosity and understatement the various Arab and Israeli characters interacting on a personal level over the course of a surprising evening.

There's a playfulness to the film's visual style, evident in the deliberate compositions and the way the immaculate powder-blue uniforms of the band are set against the desert environment. Yet alongside the droll humour, which is exemplified in a memorable roller-disco sequence where Khaled dispenses romantic advice to the shy Papi (Avraham), one feels a sense of the genuine sadness and vulnerability that lie within the likes of Dina and Tawfiq. And it's music, whether in the form of a dinner-table rendition of 'Summertime' or in the closing public recital of the band, which is shown to be able to transcend national boundaries.

Verdict
In other hands this might have become a clumsy message movie, but the witty script, charming performances and playful direction make for pleasurable viewing.

Channel4