Waltz with Bashir Details

5 Star Visuals, 2 Star Narrative

I saw this film when it was previewed. The animation is stunning; it has a 'rotorscope' ('Scanner Darkly') feel and is well worth seeing for that alone. The problem is that - unlike 'Persepolis', for example - there's so much narrative that the visual images have no space to breathe and the film is much less emotionally affecting as a result. This narrative - interviews with soldiers involved - is dense, unrelenting and focuses on the technical aspects of the operation. Perhaps this is one of the disadvantages of having the same writer/director/producer - no one was was able to say, 'Ari, sometimes less is more' (cf. the beautifully stripped-down 'American Beauty').

The film gives no historical context, so it's worth a quick refresh on the 1982 Lebanon War before you see this. Nevertheless, it's well worth seeing.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Made me very uncomfortable

Yes it is critical of official Israeli politics. But is that enough? I watched it getting more and more uncomfortable. Did I really care about the emotional angst of these Israeli soldiers? Should I worry about the feelings of these, the perpetrators? Where were the victims, other than as stereotypes? I found it difficult to engage in any sort of empathy for the soldiers who could see counsellors, receive good medical treatment when none existed for their victims.