This film is sold out – if tickets become available they will be sold at the Nickelodeon 15 minutes before start time at 4:00 PM
Eight Egyptians, the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra, are booked to play at the Arab Cultural Center in Petah Tikva, Israel. A miscommunication (Arabic has no “p” sound, and regularly replaces it with “b”), causes the band to travel to Beit Hatikva, a desolate fictional town in the Negev Desert with no culture, no hotels and no transportation out that night. The Israeli townspeople, curious, wary, but friendly, provide shelter, food, music and companionship. “Enemies,” Egyptian Arabs and Israeli Jews, reveal themselves as ordinary people with disappointments and hopes. This 2007 film, winner of 8 Ophir awards, stars the late Ronit Elkabetz (Gett: The Trial of Viviane Ansalem) and has been turned into a 10 Tony Award winning musical.
Post-film discussion with John Cariani, author of the acclaimed play “Almost Maine” and member of the original Broadway cast of The Band’s Visit.
“A quiet sympathetic film.” Roger Ebert
“Lovely, smart and beautifully understated.” SFGate
“A sweet and sour comedy.” NYTimes
FILM DETAILS
Comedy-Drama / Dir Eran Kolirin / Starring Sasson Gabai, Ronit Elkabetz, Saleh Bakri / 2008 / Israel/ Hebrew, Arabic, English / 87 minutes
festivals
Cannes Film Festival, Israeli Film Academy Best Film + 7 other awards (including Best Actor, Actress and Director), Montreal Film Festival, Sarajevo Film Festival, Zurich Film Festival
