There is a new film coming out in theaters next week. It is called "Waltz with Bashir." This film deals with the 1982 Lebanon War from the perspective of a soldier in the Israeli army. I think the director, Ari Folman, made a really interesting choice of using animation to tell this tale. This film is a fictional documentary recounting his own life. He explains in an interview that this form (animation) is completely free. He is able to make any choice he wishes when it comes to telling his story. In parts of the film he includes material from the actual war itself. This break in the aesthetic is a bold choice however it has a purpose. Ari would like people to come out of the theaters not just thinking it was a cool film that looked good. He wants people to realize the pain and horror of war. It's not all comradely and honor like the media makes us think.
Below is the complete interview:
Synopsis for the film:
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.
Film Preview:
Here is what people around the world are saying about "Waltz with Bashir"
"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
"An intense, moving animation film as we've never seen before. A masterpiece"
Julien Welter, l'Express
"Ari Folman has definitively moved the frontier berween fiction
and documentary". Philippe Azoury, Liberation
"A clever work of (and about) memory, a powerful, beautiful and usefull film."
Serge Kaganski, Les Inrockuptibles
"It's a shattering war film, full of guilt and shock, and finding a new medium for expressing and exploring familiar themes," Jason Solomons, the Observer
"Folman has made a beautiful, disturbing and deeply compelling film"
Kim Voynar, Cinematical
Personally I am really excited to see this film. It looks pretty amazing and it deals with war in a different way then films like "Saving Private Ryan," where live action is used to bring you into the film. This film is only having a limited release so make sure to look and see if it's playing near you.
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