Review of The Band's Visit (2007) by Chris K — 01 Aug 2008

A beautiful little movie. It doesn't last long, but it's a joyful ride while it lasts. The script is strong, the performances are subtle, and there's a great deal of humanity flowing through this very relatable cross-cultural film.

(And it was certainly refreshing and enjoyable to see Arabic and Israeli characters interacting like this, in light of the seemingly endless conflict in the Middle East.) The film reminds us well that regardless of who we are and where we come from, we're all human, and all plenty capable of connecting when we try.

The characters are a joy to watch, the character development is all gracefully executed and in some cases heartbreaking, giving the film some additional emotional depth and resonance. And the humor is all spot-on.

Trilingual films like this - The Band's Visit going back and forth between Arabic, Hebrew, and English - are rare enough as is, but so often brilliant in their multiculturalism and overall feeling of realism in the way they convey communication and miscommunication between people.

In short, absolutely see this movie. You'll wish it was longer.