Downtown Huntsville Library
Beneath the Surface: An International Film Series
Monday, June 23, 2025 5:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
The Band’s Visit (Israel, 2007)
A scheduling mishap lands seven Egyptian musicians in the boondocks of Israel, where they and the local townspeople make a fleeting communion with each other. As the film’s opening puts it: “Once, not long ago, a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this. It was not that important.”
The film was a favorite to win the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, but was disqualified for containing too much dialogue in English. It would go on to be adapted into a Broadway musical which won Best Musical at the 72nd Tony Awards.
Beneath the Surface: An International Film Series
The films in this series explore the disconnect between what seems apparent on the surface and inner reality: characters and communities reveal hidden depths, the nature of reality itself is called into question, and even those closest to us suddenly display hidden facets that belie what we have taken for granted all this time.
June 2: La Strada (Italy, 1954)
June 9: Wings of Desire (Germany, 1987)
June 16: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (France, 1972)
June 23: The Band’s Visit (Israel, 2007)
June 30: Mirai (Japan, 2018)