Bikur Ha-Tizmoret
This is the sweet and simple story of an Egyptian police ceremonial band that is to play at the opening of the Arab Cultural Center in Petah Tiqva, Israel. Only problem is, they end up in the wrong town -- Beit Hatikva -- a little Israeli town where the Egyptians and Israelis discover that each or just people like them.
The repressed Lieutenant-colonel Tawfiq Zacharya (Sasson Gabai) runs a tight group of eight band members. Despite the goof-up, he maintains dignity and doesn't want to be a burden on the townspeople until they can leave on the next day's bus.
Haled (Saleh Bakri) is a bit of a flirtatious rebel and matchmaker while Simon (Khalifa Natour) is a talented musician who is frustrated that he hasn't completed his concerto yet he loves to play what he's written for others.
Dina (Ronit Elkabetz), the lovely and worldly cafe owner, offers the band food and arranges lodging for the for the evening, with Tawfiq and Haled staying with her. Avrum (Uri Gavriel) takes Simon and two others to his home where his wife is not happy about the situation and his father is fascinated by the band members.
Papi (Shlomi Avraham), a social inept young man who lives in the back room of Dina's cafe, offers floor space to the other band members.
This is really a charming story and, I wish, one that reflected constant reality and acceptence of others around the world.
In some future film, Sasson Gabai needs to play Ben Kingsley's brother!
Written and directed by Eran Kolirin.
While most of the dialogue is in English, the asides in Hebrew and Egyptian are subititled.
Run Time: 1 hour, 27 minutes
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
My personal rating: B
This is the sweet and simple story of an Egyptian police ceremonial band that is to play at the opening of the Arab Cultural Center in Petah Tiqva, Israel. Only problem is, they end up in the wrong town -- Beit Hatikva -- a little Israeli town where the Egyptians and Israelis discover that each or just people like them.
The repressed Lieutenant-colonel Tawfiq Zacharya (Sasson Gabai) runs a tight group of eight band members. Despite the goof-up, he maintains dignity and doesn't want to be a burden on the townspeople until they can leave on the next day's bus.
Haled (Saleh Bakri) is a bit of a flirtatious rebel and matchmaker while Simon (Khalifa Natour) is a talented musician who is frustrated that he hasn't completed his concerto yet he loves to play what he's written for others.
Dina (Ronit Elkabetz), the lovely and worldly cafe owner, offers the band food and arranges lodging for the for the evening, with Tawfiq and Haled staying with her. Avrum (Uri Gavriel) takes Simon and two others to his home where his wife is not happy about the situation and his father is fascinated by the band members.
Papi (Shlomi Avraham), a social inept young man who lives in the back room of Dina's cafe, offers floor space to the other band members.
This is really a charming story and, I wish, one that reflected constant reality and acceptence of others around the world.
In some future film, Sasson Gabai needs to play Ben Kingsley's brother!
Written and directed by Eran Kolirin.
While most of the dialogue is in English, the asides in Hebrew and Egyptian are subititled.
Run Time: 1 hour, 27 minutes
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
My personal rating: B
