waltz with bashir

i wasn't so sure about this animated film
not a huge fan of a style usually reserved for family films
but the subject of this film is all but family oriented
it concerns a massacre that took place in lebanon early 80's
in this case from the point of view of israeli soldiers
the director set out to interview some soldiers involved
but their request for anonymity meant animation was an option
the film opens with a quite unsettling pack of dogs
so immediately i'm thinking this is symbolic of the soldiers
but in fact it turns out to be a dream sequence
that of one of the soldiers featured in the film
he's having a beer with an old comrade in arms
and tells the story of the dream and it's significance
a direct connection to an event in the lebanon war
this jars the memory of his now unsettled companion
who then sets off on a journey of discovery
he tracks down other soldiers to seek more information
including a visit to holland where one has retreated
there's constant flashbacks to the war in question
so as the film progresses the gaps are filled in
it takes a bit of effort to get past the animation
close the eyes and the voices are no doubt genuine
unfortunately the need to read subtitles makes this a folly
it is quite a dialogue-rich film so concentration is needed
especially for one as me with little knowledge of the events
i kept thinking this was such a unique film experience
a very serious subject using a quite whimsical technique
not your average serious knitted-brow documentary
a constant mental alarm going off as to the subject
an equally constant wonder at the effectiveness of the animation
and then in the final scenes of the film - the killer blow
a cut to some archival footage of the actual massacre
i don't recall ever being so moved by such footage
full marks to the director/producer/animator
a superb telling of the story in question
and then a jolting return to a sad reality
had me glued to the seat as the credits rolled
another very satisfying and unique cinema experience