Waltz with Bashir

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- Iris
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Waltz with Bashir
OP - December 01, 2008, 06:59 PM

Has anyone seen this film? Its an Israeli animated documentary which tells the story of the director Ari Folman's attempts to try and make sense of his memories of the Israeli- Lebanese war. At the time he was a 19-year old soldier in the IDF and was indirectly involved in the Sabra and Shatila massacres.

I watched it in Edinburgh with a Palestinian friend. After it finished the audience just sat there staring at the screen in stunned silence. When we left the theatre we bumped into an Israeli acquaintance who had just watched the film too, and he asked my friend what she thought of it. She burst out 'It's completely different from the version that we know!'.
I would have liked to compare their different thoughts and viewpoints on the film but thought it best to change the subject to avoid a diplomatic incident . The point is though, that I was also told that the Sabra and Shatila massacre was perpetrated by Israeli soldiers under direct orders from Ariel Sharon, and was shocked to discover that in fact, although Israel played a large role, the killings themselves were carried out by Lebanese Christians. I thought (being an arab and therefore a fan of conspiracy theories ) that the director might be telling porkies but a little bit of research convinced me otherwise.

Has anyone seen it, what did you think? How much do you know about Sabra and Shatila?

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- BerberElla
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Re: Waltz with Bashir
Reply #1 - December 01, 2008, 08:14 PM

I haven't seen it but it sounds interesting.

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- Cheetah
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Re: Waltz with Bashir
Reply #2 - December 01, 2008, 08:20 PM

I've never even heard of it, but I definitely want to watch it now.

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Re: Waltz with Bashir
Reply #3 - December 01, 2008, 08:31 PM

Quote from: Cheetah on December 01, 2008, 08:20 PM
I've never even heard of it, but I definitely want to watch it now.

Good lord, it looks fantastic in this trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B86ziCwcmo&feature=related

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- Iris
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Re: Waltz with Bashir
Reply #4 - December 01, 2008, 08:58 PM

I would strongly recommend it, its powerful and beautifully done. I guess the animation is simple but the focus is on the story which is thought-provoking.

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- cosmicdancer
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Re: Waltz with Bashir
Reply #5 - December 01, 2008, 09:10 PM

Quote from: Iris on December 01, 2008, 06:59 PM
Has anyone seen this film? Its an Israeli animated documentary which tells the story of the director Ari Folman's attempts to try and make sense of his memories of the Israeli- Lebanese war. At the time he was a 19-year old soldier in the IDF and was indirectly involved in the Sabra and Shatila massacres.

I watched it in Edinburgh with a Palestinian friend. After it finished the audience just sat there staring at the screen in stunned silence. When we left the theatre we bumped into an Israeli acquaintance who had just watched the film too, and he asked my friend what she thought of it. She burst out 'It's completely different from the version that we know!'.
I would have liked to compare their different thoughts and viewpoints on the film but thought it best to change the subject to avoid a diplomatic incident . The point is though, that I was also told that the Sabra and Shatila massacre was perpetrated by Israeli soldiers under direct orders from Ariel Sharon, and was shocked to discover that in fact, although Israel played a large role, the killings themselves were carried out by Lebanese Christians. I thought (being an arab and therefore a fan of conspiracy theories ) that the director might be telling porkies but a little bit of research convinced me otherwise.

Has anyone seen it, what did you think? How much do you know about Sabra and Shatila?

I haven't see the film, but I do remember Sabra and Chatila - I never thought the Israelis did it themselves - I don't know anyone who did.

I always knew it was done by Christian Militia - though the Israelis were encircling the camps at the time. Of course the Israelis deny any involvement - however they let the Christian militia in and could not have been in the slightest doubt about what was going to happen.
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Re: Waltz with Bashir
Reply #6 - December 01, 2008, 09:18 PM

Quote
I always knew it was done by Christian Militia - though the Israelis were encircling the camps at the time. Of course the Israelis deny any involvement - however they let the Christian militia in and could not have been in the slightest doubt about what was going to happen.

The version I've always heard is the same, apart from the bit I've bolded. I always thought that the Israelis admitted responsibility on the part of Sharon, and punished him for it. I forget how, but he was supposedly either dishonourably discharged, or sacked in some way.

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- cosmicdancer
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Re: Waltz with Bashir
Reply #7 - December 01, 2008, 10:08 PM

Quote from: Cheetah on December 01, 2008, 09:18 PM
Quote
I always knew it was done by Christian Militia - though the Israelis were encircling the camps at the time. Of course the Israelis deny any involvement - however they let the Christian militia in and could not have been in the slightest doubt about what was going to happen.

The version I've always heard is the same, apart from the bit I've bolded. I always thought that the Israelis admitted responsibility on the part of Sharon, and punished him for it. I forget how, but he was supposedly either dishonourably discharged, or sacked in some way.

I could be mistaken, but I think the Israelis deny any complicity or knowledge that the Christian militia were going to start massacring Palestinians - and only admit that when they did realise what was going on, they did nothing.
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