Film series screens ‘The Band’s Visit’ on Nov. 17

WOODSTOCK, N.Y. >> The charming cross-cultural comedy-drama “The Band’s Visit” will be shown as this month’s offering from the Movies With Spirit series on Saturday, Nov 17, at 7 p.m. at Woodstock Jewish Congregation, 1682 Glasco Turnpike.

In writer-director Eran Kolirin’s first feature film, eight Egyptian men from the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrive in Israel from Egypt in full uniform, ready to perform at an Arab cultural center in Petah Tikva, a small city near Tel Aviv. But due to a transliteration issue — Arabic has no “p” sound and regularly replaces the “p” with a “b” — the band members unwittingly take a bus to Beit Hatikva, a forlorn town in the middle of a desert, instead of Petah Tikva, where they’re supposed to be.

Not realizing they’re in the wrong place, they stop at

a Band Zacharya Gabai) Dina get Israeli all,” the small “No to glamour nowheresville Dina (Ronit leader the asks culture, restaurant Arab says, Arab (played restaurant Elkabetz) culture Lt. of no summing cultural her Col. by culture for community. backwater, here, Tawfiq Sasson how owner lunch. center. up no to at

current musical which including Best The Musical, won comedy sold-out of the the 10 Best Tony “Big same inspired Book, Broadway Awards, Six” name, Best the — Score, Musical. and Best Best Best Actress Actor Direction in in a a Musical, Musical, of a The Arabic 2007 movie and — English in Hebrew, with one hour English 27 subtitles minutes — and runs is rated Picture PG-13 Association by the of Motion America.

The Woodstock screening will be followed by a facilitated discussion. Refreshments will be served. Attendees over age 12 are asked to contribute $5 to $10 a person.

The monthly Movies With Spirit series, organized by Gerry Harrington of Kingston, seeks to stimulate people’s sense of joy and wonder, inspire love and compassion, evoke a deepened understanding of people’s integral connection with others and with life itself, and support individual cultures, faith paths and beliefs while simultaneously transcending them. The films are screened in diverse houses of worship and reverence across Ulster and Dutchess counties at 7 p.m. on the third Saturday of every month. The series has no religious affiliation.

For more information about “The Band’s Visit” and the rest of the series, contact Harrington at (845) 389-9201 or atgerryharrington@mindspring.com. Details are also available at movieswithspirit. com and facebook.com/MoviesWithSpirit.