Waltz with Bashir - Movie Review and Synopsis

One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there’s a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can’t remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images.

Uh-oh, the Academy has another Persepolis situation on their hands… Turns out Ari Folman’s surrealist animated war drama never had its mandatory one-week run in New York City this year (something that had to be in place by the end of last August), so it’s no kudos for Bashir, easily one of the best-received documentaries on the international film-festival circuit. Personally, while I think the rule is so old fashioned, I find it odd that the doc’s NYC-based distributor, Sony Pictures Classics, missed the bus here. The Joe Sacco set is up in arms!!

Rated R for some disturbing images of atrocities, strong violence, brief nudity and a scene of graphic sexual content.

Director: Ari Folman
Stars: Ari Folman, Ron Ben-Yishai, Ronny Dayag, Dror Harazi, Yehezkel Lazarov
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

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