3. Analyze the relationship(s) between Dina, Tewfiq, and Haled in The Band's Visit. Be sure to work from specific scenes. Think about the different ways (besides spoken language) that communication functions in the film.
The film the Band's Visit is a story of the universality of human emotions. Elan Kolirin introduces us to two diverse cultures that are by fate united together. In their interaction, the Egyptians and the Israeli's come to terms with their similarities and look beyond their national differences. The characters get to know that they have had almost similar experiences in life and fight the same battles every day. This film reflects the concept of humanity and embracing diversity. Kolirin focuses on the similarity of humanity despite the boundaries created by different cultures and nations. Egypt and Israel had earlier on been archenemies before an agreement was signed by the two countries to end the hostility they had towards each other. This paper discusses and analyzes the relationships between three characters in the film; Dina (Ronit Elkabetz), Tewfiq (Sasson Gabai) and Haled (Saleh Bakri). These characters play an important role in bringing about the concepts of human relationships and the importance of human communication.
Dina is the lonely, beautiful woman who lives in the deserted town of Bet Hatikva. The town, as Dina describes it does not have any culture. She says "No culture, Not Israeli culture. Not Arabno culture at all" (scene 8:27). The town is located in the middle of ‘nowhere' and has simple folks and few towns' people. Dina listens to the story of the eight Egyptian police officers who make up the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra. The group have come to perform at the Arab Cultural Centre, but with no one to meet them at the airport; they end up taking the wrong bus and consequently end up at Bet Hatikva. Dina offers the eight a place to sleep at her home and her employee's homes. She takes in Tawfiq and Haled to spend the night at her house and is very hospitable to them. Despite the differences in nationalities, it is evident that she has a precious and generous soul. Later into the night, Dina gets to have a heart to heart conversation with Tewfiq whom she grows fond of like the night advances.
Dina and Tewfiq feel differently about life. Dina feels like life has offered her so little. She feels intensely lonely and vulnerable even though she acts tough. Dina is carefree and passionate about life. Her open sensuality and her free spirit, on the other hand, bewilder Tewfiq. Tewfiq, a widower, feels like there is so much weighing him down. He feels that life and age are pulling him in even though he tries to resist. Dinah sees through Tewfiq's reserved nature and glances deep into a beautiful soul within him. She is convinced that Tewfiq, though quiet and reserved is a very good person on the inside. The two get comfortable with each other and share their past lives and their present lives. Tewfiq even teaches Dina how to conduct an orchestra. This is to show how comfortable these two have become of each other. Dinah has no regrets about the turns that her life has taken. She is divorced and lonely but lives life as a free spirit. She jokingly mocks him and is attracted to his gentle voice and his seemingly sad eyes. Tewfiq notices the vulnerability behind Dina's words and appreciates her great personality- a mixture of an independent spirit and humor. Largely, it is rightful to say that these two make up the film. The film revolves around them and their past stories. They are both anxious about what the future holds for them. They even flirt with each other as the night advances. Nothing, however, happens between them besides their mutual attraction to each other's personalities.
Of much interest is the character Haled in the film. Haled's personality greatly collides with that of Tawfiq. Being the youngest in the group, Haled is considered more of a rebel as far as discipline is concerned. His rebellion does not, however, come out in the open. It is more of an underlying emotion that is meant for an audience to guess. Tawfiq goes with him to Dina's house to ensure that he does not get into any trouble. Even though he is grown up and capable of keeping himself from trouble, Tawfiq still believes that the young man is not safe alone. Tawfiq warns Haled not to get into trouble when he and Dina leave the house (scene 76:28). In his perception, Haled is a child who needs constant guidance. He sees him as a son than a fellow member of the band. Their perceptions about life and behavior are by far a contradiction of each other's. This is mainly because of the big age difference, Hamed being in the golden years of his youth.
Looking into Dina and Haled's relationship, it is no doubt that, these two are attracted to each other sexually. The night reaches a climax with the two going into Dina's room and engaging in a session of sexual activity as Tawfiq listens from the corridors (scene 81:56). It is evident that he feels bad about it. Dina is attracted to Tawfiq's beautiful soul and Haled's young and free self. He, therefore, chooses Haled as a favorable partner for her sexual needs even though their attraction does not go beyond the physical.
Non-verbal communication is used in the film to address the inner feelings of some of the characters. Haled teaches Papi, an extremely shy Israeli boy how to show interest to a woman without having to say a word. He teaches Papi how to react when a girl is crying by handing her a handkerchief and to try and kiss the girl without speaking. He assists him in making a proposal to a girl he admires but is too shy to approach and declare his feelings.
Additionally, Simon, one of the members of the band is trapped in a tension-ridden house at Itzik's. The latter's wife is not pleased about the presence of the Arab foreigner in her house, on her birthday. She doesn't address them directly, but Simon feels the undercurrent of tension and the uncomfortable silence which sets in as they eat. He feels uncomfortable about the forced acquaintance even though there's nothing he can do about it. He is forced to spend the night in a home where he feels unwelcomed by the wife of his host. The silence communicates the tension in the house, and even though nobody has the courage to send Simon off on his way, he feels the bite of Itzik's family rejection ("The Band's Visit FULL 'MOVIE''free" 65:06).
Throughout this film, the director focuses on human relationships, and the similarities of human emotions. The film paints a portrait of humanity and focuses on what the world would be like if people could embrace each other and treat them as equals despite the diversity of origins. The film combines humor, silence, and melancholy to reveal the deep struggles and victories of people. The dialogue in the film is a mixture of English, Hebrew and Arabic, which are blended to come up with an effective flow of communication. Through this film, Kolirin encourages the human race to focus not on an individual's background, but on the person; that is the individual.
Work Cited
"The Band's Visit FULL 'MOVIE''free". YouTube. N.p., 2016. Web. 24 July 2016.
