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Waltz with Bashir
Waltz with Bashir is an Israeli documentary
feature recalling writer and director Ari Folman’s experience of the
1982 Lebanon war. The war led to the notorious massacres in Sabra and
Shatila where many innocent civilians lost their lives at the hands of
Lebanese militia. While conversing with a friend who is having
nightmares about his experiences, Folman is shocked to discover he
cannot remember a thing from that period. Later that night Folman has
his first flashback to the war, yet he isn’t sure if it is a memory or
fiction. From there Folman travels to meet other people he believes can
help him. These include his fellow servicemen, a journalist who covered
the war, and a psychologist. It is through these people that Folman
believes he can piece together his role in this dark period.
The film is entirely animated, save for the last few minutes, and looks
wonderful. The technique is similar to rotoscoping, which gives the film
a look of stylised realism. The dark tones used in the animation
perfectly suit the subject matter as well, which is rather horrifying.
The use of animation also means that the film captures things that a
regular documentary could not have. Footage of the war based on people’s
memories is beautifully, yet hauntingly captured here. People’s
nightmares and thoughts are also captured and interpreted by Folman,
instead of just talking head segments.
The film deals with tragic subject matter and handles it well. One does
not need to be familiar with the Lebanon war to watch the film, as it
tackles it from a more personal angle than a traditional documentary on
the war. By using Folman as an anchor to these events, we are given very
personal recollections from people that served together during the war.
The subjects of the documentary are not interrogated in a journalistic
fashion. They are having an intimate chat with Folman recalling their
own experiences.
The event it all led up to, the massacre, is something that is a deep
shame for all involved and it shows during these conversations with
Folman’s fellow soldiers. This often makes the film itself hard to
watch. It is an occasionally punishing feature, and offers little in the
way of light hearted fun. This is not a war movie showing the glory of
battle or the heroes, as it is never that simple. Instead the battle
scenes in Waltz with Bashir are short and brutal, much like real life
warfare.
The special features include a short yet informative interview with Ari
Folman, taken from At the Movies, a theatrical trailer, and some
trailers for other Madman films. The selection is fairly light, yet this
is not the sort of film to include fluff featurettes about it’s
creation.
Waltz with Bashir is a traumatic film. It offers no easy answers, it
just shows how a small group of men grapple with their responsibility in
a genocide. The film shows the needless casualties and human errors that
led to the catastrophic events. The subject matter is incredibly
interesting yet horrifying, but its presentation of the events is
mesmerizing. The film will keep the viewer entranced for its duration,
and will have you thinking for many hours more. Waltz with Bashir comes
highly recommended, but it is not easily digested, and does not lend
itself to repeat viewings. I suppose in this respect Ari Folman has
succeeded with his anti war message.
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