There aren’t a lot of films that can play charm so nimbly as The Band’s Visit. It starts with the words, “Once-not long ago-a small Egyptian police band arrived in Israel. Not many remember this...It wasn't that important.” And with that deadpan set-up, an enlightened viewer can already tell that this is going to a film of a singular wit that’s as dry as its desert setting. Although the dialogue is subtitled from the bizarre mix of languages including Arabic, Hebrew and English, the characters and comedy are easily translatable making it instantly magical movie that will (and should) be popular across cultures.

Written and directed by Israeli filmmaker Eran Kolirin (with his feature directorial debut), The Band’s Visit is about the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra who arrive in Israel from Egypt to play at the Arab cultural center in Petah Tiqva. But through an error miscommunication, the band ends up boarding the bus to Beit Hatikva, a town in the opposite direction. Stuck in the middle of nowhere, waiting for the next morning’s bus, the band finds sympathy from restauranteur Dina (Ronit Elkabetz) who, with the help of friends, manages to find accomodations for the band members. For many of them, it will be a night they won’t forget as culture’s clash in unexpected ways.

The film is remarkable for the way it’s able to thread that fine line between sweet and quirky. Of course you can’t hope but recognize the underline idealism in the subject matter: the fact that this is a film about Israelis and Egyptians where no one hates each other and/or is packing heat. Does the film dismiss the great divide between these cultures? Not really, a few of the band members stay in less than friendly accomedations, a distant Jewish family who are unsure about having these Egyptians in their midst, but there is middle ground found thanks to the band’s gentle, sometimes-conducter, second-in-command Simon (Khalifa Natour) and his prepetually unfinished concerto.

The Band’s Visit, like a lot of great comedies, roots itself in finding the funny that comes from the ordinariness of people. The way it presents itself could almost work as a silent film, afterall it’s quite nearly music free for a film about musicians. There are a number of brilliant scenes in the film, including when band bad boy Haled (Saleh Bakri) helps the inexperienced Papi (Shlomi Avraham) in seducing the plain-looking girl at the roller rink. The other stand-out is Sasson Gabai as Tawfiq, the band’s CO and leader who’s subdued nature is put to the test when the much more gregarious Dina takes a shine to him. Elkabetz practically screams sensuality as Dina, which makes her night on the town with the downbeat Tawfiq one of the best, awkward first dates ever.

The Boston Globe’s Ty Burr pointed out the irony of a film about cross-cultural communication and the virtue of meeting each other for what we have in common being banned from film festivals in Cairo and Abu Dhabi. (Not to mention being cast out of contention for the best foreign language Oscar because half the dialogue is in English, no matter how stilted, I guess.) It’s unbeleivable because I can’t think of another film off the top of my end that says more in such a genuine and sweetly manner while still being borderline hysterical at times. This band’s visit was much too brief, but oh so enjoyable.