Drama,Animation,War,Documentary
Israel,France,Germany
Waltz with Bashir is a 2008 animated documentary film directed by Ari Folman. The film explores Folman's personal memories of the 1982 Lebanon war, during which he served as a soldier in the Israeli army. In particular, it focuses on the Sabra and Shatila massacre, a horrific event in which Lebanese Christian Phalangist militia systematically slaughtered Palestinian refugees in two Beirut camps over several days, while Israeli troops stood by.
Folman interviews former soldiers and friends who were also present during the war and the massacre, attempting to piece together his own lost memories. He draws on their personal accounts to tell the story of the massacre and the wider war from multiple perspectives.
The film is notable for its animation style, which blends traditional animation with rotoscoping techniques, combining live-action footage with hand-drawn animation. This allows Folman to recreate the chaotic and surreal world of war and memory, while also honoring the individual voices and experiences of his interview subjects.
Waltz with Bashir received critical acclaim upon its release, winning the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Documentary, among other honors. It has been credited with helping to launch the resurgence of animated documentaries in the 21st century, and continues to be regarded as a powerful and innovative work of cinema.
