section From Real to Reel – Israel: A 75th perspective in films

Waltz with Bashir

  • Ari Folman
  • DE/FR/IL
  • 2008
  • 90 Min

An unexpected and startling meeting with an old friend from the army, sets the director on a journey to crack his sealed memories about his personal role in a massacre that took place in the 82' Israel – Lebanon War.

The first Israeli animation film for adults represents an admixture of fiction and documentary. It is based on Ari Folman’s unfolding memories from the ´82 War in Lebanon as well as interviews with friends who served with him during the infamous “Sabra & Shatila” massacre. The use of animation is a perfect fit for the elusive traits of memory; it plays out both in the present time and the past and takes in Israel, Lebanon and the Netherlands. A cognitive character exploration beyond time and space, the result is an emotional experience of peeling off the psychological layers of a human defense mechanism and the horrible understanding that these layers are in fact what enables humans to repeat the horrors of the past. WALTZ WITH BASHIR won the Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award.


This film will also be shown on Sat, 17.06.2023 at 7 pm at the Filmtheater Union Fürstenwalde.


Credits

original title Waltz With Bashir

international title Waltz with Bashir

german title Waltz with Bashir

JFBB section From Real to Reel – Israel: A 75th perspective in films

  • director Ari Folman

country/countries DE/FR/IL

year 2008

duration 90 Min