Wednesday 25 July 2012

Waltz with Bashir (movie review)


Waltz with Bashir (animated drama/documentary) (2008) (1 hr 27 mins)
From the very first scene to the very last, this film is simply dazzling. If you’re not a fan of animation, don’t be put off. The visuals in this film are so realistic that you soon forget you are not watching real people.

The film is based on the true story of director Ari Folman, an Israeli army veteran. It opens with a meeting in a bar between Folman and an old army colleague who tells Folman of a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by a pack of vicious dogs. They conclude that the dream must be connected with their time of service in the Israeli army during the first Lebanon War.

Folman realises he is unable to remember anything about the War and he decides to set out on a mission of discovery. As he visits old friends and comrades, memories start to rise up, culminating in a massacre he witnessed that continues to haunt him. 

The animated format allows Folman to use dreams and surreal images but somehow these scenes only reinforce the realism of the scenes unfolding. The brilliant animation should not disguise an excellent script and imaginative direction. The film deservedly won numerous awards and received wide acclaim from critics.

Rating: 10/10

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