Waltz With Bashir

[AZZenny]

Waltz with Bashir (2008)

You must be registered for see images

Director: Ari Folman
Writer: Ari Folman
Release Date: 15 Dec 2008 (limited USA) 12 June 2008 (Israel)
Genre: Animation | Biography-Documentary | Drama | War

Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2591555609/

One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there's a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can't remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images.



"Could easily turn out to be one of the most powerful statements of this Cannes and will leave its mark forever on the ethics of war films in general,"
Dan Fainaru, Screen Daily.

"Waltz With Bashir is an extraordinary, harrowing, provocative picture. We staggered out of the screening in a daze." Xan Brooks, The Guardian

"something special, strange and peculiarly potent" Leslie Felperin, Variety

"The message of the futility of war has rarely been painted with
such bold strokes." Mary Corliss, Time

"Folman unleashes a pastiche of incredible cinematic scenes that are as innovative as they are devastating." Sheigh Crabtree, LA Times

"The artistic choice made by Folman (animation) brings an apocalyptic and surrealistic dimension to this universal and moving film."
Barbara Theate, Le Journal du Dimanche


This has gotten outstanding reviews everywhere and been nominated for (or won) over a dozen international awards. It's actually a documentary, with many of the characters playing themselves.

 

[AZZenny]

Israeli documentary filmmaker Ari Folman won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film for his animated feature Waltz with Bashir.

Folman thanked his team and his wife and dedicated the award to the babies born to his team members over the four years during which the film was made.

Expressing his wish to see peace arrive in the war-torn Middle East, Folman said he hoped one day these babies will look at the film and the war it described as an old video game.

Although it is critical of Israel's role in the 1982 Lebanon War and opens some old wounds, it was well-received and highly regarded by Israelis, also winning many awards.

 

[Matt L]

I watched this about a month ago.

What did you think about it Azzenny?

 

[AZZenny]

I watched it when it came out, and was impressed but not blown away. I really appreciated the weird mix of documentary, animation, and story. (Maybe I was subconsciously trying to catch words in Hebrew, which I was studying at the time.)

Then I watched it again maybe 9-10 months later on DVD with a friend -- he'd had a couple people tell him it was one of the greatest anti-war movies ever made. Second time it was like it finally hit me full force -- totally ripped me up emotionally. I now think it is a great film. My friend was stunned by it.

I have read that it was smuggled in to Lebanon (illegal to even possess Israeli stuff in many Arab countries, and certainly to show a film) for some private screenings among Lebanese film people. They were amazed by the raw honesty as well as the technical innovations, and jealous (and angry) because Lebanese artists could never dare to make a film so harshly critical of their own government or history.