#2: Bikur Ha-Tizmoret (2007)

This little gem of a film was a surprise find for me. I heard about it, was interested in it, but had no idea how much it would impact me or make me feel. The movie is a great meditation on the power of silence, and how much stronger it can be when utilized effectively. The movie is the simple story of an Egyptian Police Band that gets off in the wrong city on their way to a performance and have to spend the night in the little town, with all its residents.

The relationship is between the Arabs and the Egyptians, which is surprisingly free of any tension. Instead, these strangers treat each other as individuals and not as strange stereotypes. The group breaks off into segments, staying with various town folk, and have varying but exciting adventures. Tawfiq (Sasson Gabai), the leader of the Band, is a reserved, quiet fellow, and Dina (Ronit Elkabetz) is the woman who tries to break his stern exterior.

A younger member of the Band goes out with younger members of the town and in one brilliant choreographed scene, instructs a fellow on how to woo a female. A random citizen stands by a telephone booth and awaits the call of his girlfriend, his long lost love. The are so many subtle touches, and the movie never feels overdone or overworked. By the time you get to the end, and Tawfiq and his merry band pipe out a wonderful tune, you know you have seen an instant classic.

This film was not nominated for the Academy Award's Best Foreign Language Film award; it was disqualified because the Academy found that over 50% of the movie's dialogue was in English. That is ridiculous in my mind; what should matter is where the movie comes from, and how good it is, not how much of it is in English. I know the category is "Foreign Language Film," but the movie was made by a Foreign Language Country. Isn't that enough? All that complaining aside as to why this was snubbed, The Band's Visit is a criminally underseen movie, but one that will leave quite satisfied and, well, happy.