After months of waiting unsuccessfully to show the movie in public, the Israeli Embassy in Cairo has resorted to inviting 200 Egyptian intellectuals to screen the film on July 10. But few are expected to show for the viewing for fear of being "blacklisted" by the government.

The film, about an Egyptian military band getting lost in the Israeli desert, was banned from the most recent edition of the Cairo International Film Festival because of its nationality.

"We thought that the movie would [have] been screened at the Cairo festival, but unfortunately, the film festival management decided not to allow this film and it decided it upon political considerations and not the artistic value of the movie," Shani Cooper, a spokeswoman for the Israeli Embassy in Egypt, told the Middle East Times.

The movie's absence has highlighted the separation between the official Egyptian government policy of peace with Israel, and the everyday perception among many Egyptians that Israel remains an enemy.

Joseph Fahim, the arts and culture editor at The Daily News Egypt, believes the movie should have been in Cairo for the festival because of its quality, nationality not withstanding.

"I think it's just absurd because the movie got amazing reviews," he argued.

"The movie is excellent and it shouldn't be marketed as a political film, which is like it advocates peace; it should be marketed as an entertaining comedy and an entertaining human comedy because that is what it essentially is."

The Abu Dhabi Film Festival dropped the film after the Egyptian Actors' Union threatened to boycott the festival.

First-time director Eran Kolririn has been invited to the screening at the Embassy in Cairo, after the director and the film's producers were unable to get the movie to show at any of the country's theaters or cultural centers. The argument was that the "Zionist film" would be misinterpreted by the intellectual elite who continuously call for a boycott of the Jewish state.

Ironically, the film is to be shown at the Four Season's Hotel auditorium. The hotel is owned by Saudi Prince Al Walid bin Talal.

According to Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, Egyptian Culture Minister Farouq Hosni claimed to have seen the movie and said, "it's excellent," which is ironic considering that the minister - a potential next head of the U.N. culture organization - has said he would "burn any Israeli books in Egypt."

Hosni said at the time of Egypt's refusal to accept the film into the international festival that "it's unadvisable to have the anti-peace opposers burn down our movie theaters because of an Israeli event."

The Israeli Embassy in Cairo says the incident highlights the cultural gulf that exists between the two countries.

"It is an ongoing frustration regarding the cultural relations between Israel and Egypt, but this time we thought it will be different," Cooper added.

The controversy over Israeli participation in any form of Egyptian art gained steam last summer when leading Egypt actor Amr Waked, who achieved international success in the Oscar-nominated movie "Syriana," came under fire for acting alongside an Israeli in a BBC production about Saddam Hussein. Ironically, the Israeli actor was of Iraqi descent and was playing the role of the late dictator.

"Look, we don't want to mix cultural aspects and political relations and we actually demand professional bodies to do the same," the embassy spokeswoman continued.

Achieving such a separation between culture and politics in Egypt, however, is more difficult.

Fahim believes the frustration of many Egyptians about Israeli policies confounds the issue. For example, a recent Egyptian government study published by the BBC found most Egyptians view Israel as an enemy state.

"We're supposed to be getting views from counter cultures even if you don't necessarily agree with them. But, I mean, why can't we show this movie if it is good?" the Daily News editor argued.

"The Band's Visit," according to many critics, is a testament to tolerance and an attempt at cultural dialogue. In this case, however, it seems art has failed to bridge a political divide.

Israel and Egypt are arguably the two leading cultural producers in the Middle East. At least for now, the world will have to wait to experience the compelling art that would no doubt be created if a full and open cultural exchange were to exist between the two countries.