The Band
Directed byAvi Nesher
Edited byIzthk Tzhayek
Music byYair Rozenblum
Release date
  • 8 April 1978 (1978-04-08)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryIsrael
LanguageHebrew

The Band, הלהקה, (also known as The Troupe) is an Israeli comedic musical, first shown in April 1978, about an army singing group in 1968. Three new members are hazed at first, one of them falls in love, and the choir's leader, in preparation for a television appearance, rehearses the troupe so much they revolt. The movie was initially unsuccessful but has gained in popularity. The choir's leader is based on real-life composer, arranger, and music director of the Nahal troupe, Yair Rosenblum. The film was directed by Avi Nesher.

Plot

The film takes place in Israel 1968 during the War of Attrition. An army entertainment troupe (based on the Nahal troupe), perform comedy and singing acts to the Israeli soldiers in combat zones to boost morale. At the beginning of the film, three departing members of the troupe play their last performance before finishing up years of service in the Israeli army. The next day, auditions, led by the director Paul Aviv (Tuvia Tzafir) are held to fill in their spots. The three chosen new members are the forward Giora Datner (Gidi Gov), the nerdy Moshe "Bazooka" Albuz (Meir Suissa), and the beautifully talented Noa Barron (Dafana Armoni). As the new members settle in, the veteran troupe members treat Datner, Bazooka, and Noa very cold. As part of the troupe's tradition, the veteran members give the new recruits the silent treatment by playing practical jokes on them.

During a rehearsal, Leicht, the assistant musical director randomly gives Noa a solo that the troupe's prima donna member, Yaffa (Smadar Brenner), initially sings. As Noa amazes everyone in the rehearsal hall, a jealous Yaffa storms out of the room in tears. Later on as the three new members are helping paint the new backdrops for their show's set, Noa breaks down in tears following a horrific rude statement from some of the veteran girls including Yaffa and Sari. Zami, the troupe's electrician explains to Datner and Bazooka about the new recruit welcome wagon tradition. A rebellious Datner and Bazooka immediately decide to go even.

Moments before their first performance in front of an audience, Datner and Bazooka kick off the start of their "payback tradition" to the veteran members. Shuka, the drummer gets pieces of his drum set broken down, Moni, the keyboard player gets powder puffing out of his keyboard, and Yaffa along with Doron, a no-nonsense shorty veteran member both get electrocuted from alcohol place on their microphones. Believing it was part of the show, the audience erupts into thunderous laughter.

The next morning prior before traveling to an army base for their next show on a bus, Doron, Moni and Shuka spread Datner's bus seat with Dog poop. Knowing right away that it was a prank, Datner pretends to faint causing panic amongst the troupe. Micki (Liron Nirgad), a featured soloist and Moni's girlfriend confronts Moni, Shuka, and Doron for their stupidity ordering them to wipe the poop. After the seat is cleaned, Datner winks at Micki (Liron Nirgad). The two eventually begin a blooming romance. The bus brings the troupe from show to show, making stops at cafes in between.

Along the journey, the troupe's womanizing male lead singer Dani (Sassi Kesshet) and Yaffa's boyfriend, the commander Moti (Doval'e Glickman) both have a love for Noa, which initially causes them to feud. The timid Bazooka gets a crush on Dani's girlfriend, Orli (Chelli Goldenberg), with Datner gives Bazooka lessons on how to develop relationships. Prior before going for Orli, Datner sets Bazooka up on several trial dates which do not turn out well, including Bazooka getting nearly raped by two drunk women at an Independence Day party.

In between, Moni, Shuka, and Doron along with Datner and Bazooka continue wild pranking each other.

Early one morning on the bus before heading out to a show in the desert, Moti shares an announcement to the troupe that they would perform on a National Entertainment Army Variety show on television, a secret that Aviv, Leicht, and the band's officer Alron have kept under wraps. Despite the excitement for the television special, more tensions begin to rise amongst the troupe. Noa is given another solo from an extreme Yaffa. Later on in that same show, a piece of the backdrop scenery falls nearly hitting Noa. The practical jokes tradition eventually led to intense fighting, notably between Dani, Moti, and Datner.

The days and hours lead closer and closer to the television performance. The tension amongst the troupe eventually begin to lack their own performances including several soldiers in the audiences eventually begin walking out mid-show. With all the drama happening, Alron puts places the entire troupe under a strict 48-hour boot camp rehearsal with Aviv in preparing for the television special. He warns them that any funny business will cause a major reduction in the troupe.

Rehearsals start off great. But the long hours begin to lack to the troupe's performances even more including an exhausted Micki, who abruptly confronts Aviv by dumping a cup of Yogurt in his face before storming out of the rehearsal. Micki is court-martialed and placed on 30 days probation being removed from both the troupe and the television special. Heartbroken and angry with their core member gone, Datner and the full troupe go on strike against Aviv until Micki is brought back. Aviv refuses and disbands the troupe storming out of the rehearsal hall to tell Alron.

While being placed on lockdown till Aviv comes back, the veteran members along with Datner, Bazooka, and Noa begin to really get along with each other as a family for the first time. During a game of spin the bottle and truth or dare combined, more secrets and confessions are revealed. Quiet member Benjamin Razon reveals he is gay, Datner lost his virginity to Micki, Mali finds out the truth that her best friend Sari was backstabbing her all this time, and Bazooka gets the lifelong kiss of his dream from Orli.

Outraged over the fiasco that went down in rehearsal, Alron angrily confronts Datner, Dani, and Moti for all the trouble they caused. To teach them a lesson for all the backstabbing, fighting, and pranks, he announces that the troupe's television special performance is cancelled, and the members will be sent to new army bases. At the lineup being assigned to their new bases, Zami, who overheard everything what went down, stops the band splitting by blaming Aviv, Alron, and his assistant Shula for everything with The Troupe and even dumps two cups of yogurt on himself making him understand that "Who Cares?! It's only Yogurt!" Everyone laughs including Aviv Alron, and Shula. The commanders all come to their senses. Alron and Aviv decide to forget everything & the television special goes on. The full troupe including Micki are all here to stay as they all head for rehearsals.

At the end of the film, The Troupe is seen performing live on television singing a song of peace and inviting the audience to join them on stage.

Cast of characters

References

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