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Waltz With Bashir

Play trailer Poster for Waltz With Bashir R Released Dec 25, 2008 1h 30m Documentary Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 152 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman wrote, directed and stars in this autobiographical animated film. As a 19-year-old infantry soldier in the 1982 war with Lebanon, Folman witnessed the Sabra and Shatila massacre, but realizes that he has no memory of the event. In 2006, he seeks out others who were in Beirut at the time to discuss their memories, including a psychologist specializing in post-traumatic stress disorders and the first journalist to cover the massacre.
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Waltz With Bashir

Waltz With Bashir

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Critics Consensus

A wholly innovative, original, and vital history lesson, with pioneering animation, Waltz With Bashir delivers its message about the Middle East in a mesmerizing fashion.

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Critics Reviews

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Liam Lacey Globe and Mail Persepolis meets Full Metal Jacket in Ari Folman's powerful and original animated war film. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 14, 2010 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek These depictions of the dementia of war have a hallucinatory power that can stand alongside those of Apocalypse Now. Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Mary Corliss TIME Magazine The message of the futility of war has rarely been painted with such bold strokes. Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) A stunning and unique look at war Nov 3, 2024 Full Review Kathy Fennessy Seattle Film Blog War may be hell for people of all ages, but Folman ensures that moments of grace and beauty shine through, best exemplified by Roni Dayag’s recollection of a late-night swim away from the scene of a beachfront battle. Rated: 4/4 Oct 17, 2023 Full Review Alistair Lawrence Common Sense Media Waltz with Bashir's illustrated and animated interviews with fellow veterans of the 1982 Lebanon War give the events and effects discussed a dream-like quality that often represent traumatizing real-life history. Rated: 3/5 Jan 11, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Liam D While an uncomfortable movie today. It’s animated movie that has an unique art style and fantastic filmmaking Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/23/24 Full Review Colin M Animated exploration of Middle East conflict. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/23/24 Full Review Audience Member DIE FINSTERNIS DES VERSTANDES Ein Mann wacht Schweiß gebadet auf, er wurde in seinem Traum von 26 dämonisch aussehenden Hunden verfolgt. Mitten in der Nacht, in einer Kneipe, fragt er seinen Freund Ari was es damit auf sich haben könnte. Denn Ursprung dieses Traumas lässt sich im Libanonkrieg wieder finden. Doch Ari selbst, kann sich nicht mehr an alles erinnern was da passierte. Er sucht alte Weggefährten auf und was er heraus findet ist eine Geschichte, vor die sein Verstand ihn beschützen wollte. Dieser Film geht ca. 87 Minuten und ist ab 12 Jahren freigegeben, empfehlenswert ist aber ab 16 Jahren. Wir bekommen hier einen Kriegsfilm im Comiclook (wer Telltale Games kennt weiss Bescheid) der uns dokumentarisch erzählt was junge Männer im Krieg erlebten. Zu allererst begeistert der Look voll und ganz, es sieht einfach fantastisch aus und Gewalt sowie Brutalität bekommen dadurch einen anderen Schrecken. Denn hier ist man nicht zimperlich wenn es darum geht den Tod zu zeigeb, egal ob Mensch oder Tier. Beginnt die Story noch mit dem Mann und den Hunden, wovon ich gern mehr erfahren hätte, dreht es sich schnell um Ari und wir sehen verschiedene Bekannte und Orte wo sie ihm erzählen was damals passierte. Dabei nimmt der Streifen eine besondere schwere an, denn mit jeder weiteren Geschichte kommen wir dem Finale näher. Was durch real Bilder abgeschlossen wird, nur mit einem dumpfen Bass unterlegt, Hammer. Man wird allein gelassen mit den Bildern und seinen eigenen Gedanken dazu. Am Ende bleibt ein hervorragendes Werk über Krieg und deren Menschen, der auf Grund seiner Kürze verträglich ist und nicht sparsam damit umgeht uns am Gräuel der Menschheit teilhaben zu lassen. Von mir bekommt der Film 8/10 Punkten. Ich habe mit Absicht keine Namen oder Städte genannt die drin vorkommen, weil ich sie mir schlicht nicht merken konnte. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/24/24 Full Review Eddie s A masterpiece and so important right now Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/26/24 Full Review Saint Decent soundtrack, dream sequence, and concept for a documentary.. but not a convincing perspective. I think the director's intention for the ending is to solidify his story, but it backfired—it made it miniscule. The PTSD of a single living able-bodied oppressor is insultingly light compared to the displacement, mass disabling, and massacre of thousands of civilians. As soon as the real footage was showed, it was very hard to keep caring about what the soldier went through. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/28/24 Full Review Pierre L This is the way ! Dance with the death. Kill but with joy ! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/02/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Waltz With Bashir

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Movie Info

Synopsis Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman wrote, directed and stars in this autobiographical animated film. As a 19-year-old infantry soldier in the 1982 war with Lebanon, Folman witnessed the Sabra and Shatila massacre, but realizes that he has no memory of the event. In 2006, he seeks out others who were in Beirut at the time to discuss their memories, including a psychologist specializing in post-traumatic stress disorders and the first journalist to cover the massacre.
Director
Ari Folman
Producer
Ari Folman, Serge Lalou, Gerhard Meixner, Roman Paul
Screenwriter
Ari Folman
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Télévision Suisse-Romande (TSR), Arte France, Radio Télévision Belge Francophone (RTBF), Razor Film Produktion GmbH, SBS, Les Films d'ici, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Israel Film Fund
Rating
R (Dist. Images of Atrocities|Brief Nudity|Graphic Sexual Violence|Strong Violence)
Genre
Documentary, Animation
Original Language
Hebrew
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.3M
Runtime
1h 30m
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