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New on DVD: Waltz With Bashir a live-action anime?
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Released in 2008, Waltz With Bashir is one of the first full-lengthed Israeli animated features released in theaters. Written and directed by Ari Folman, Waltz With Bashir is a documentary filmed in the style of living art.
After an old army buddy comes to Ari troubled by a reoccurring dream he has about the Lebanon War they both served in, Ari finds 
himself tormented by the one single memory he has about his time in the Israeli Defense Service. Ari’s memory is of himself and two other soldiers emerging seaside near the shore in Beirut. In his vision, Ari and his friends arise from the water to a sky lit only by flares passing overhead as the soldiers make their way to shore. For peace of mind, Ari becomes determined to remember all that he has forgot about the war. A psychiatrist friend tells Ari to try to visit his fellow soldiers from the war to investigate what his memory has blocked out. Based on Ari Folman’s actual experience in the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and the true testimony he obtained from the men he served with, the film graphically depicts the memories each soldier had about the war. The more Ari is told about what happened to him and his unit during the war, the more Ari remembers why his one memory stuck so vividly in his mind.
Waltz With Bashir was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at last year’s Academy Awards®, but it could easily have 
been nominated for Best Motion Picture: the imagery in this film is so dynamic and compelling it could stand up to any live-action film in that category. Telling Ari’s story through animation gives the film an emotional dimension that would not necessarily be achieved through live-action: there is a certain freedom that comes with animation; a stronger element of control. As the director, Ari was able to manipulate the lighting exactly the way he wanted, and he was able to create flawless transitions from time and place all while getting the exact shots he wanted, something not easily obtained with live-action films. The trouble animated features can run in to, is creating real emotion in unreal characters. However, Waltz With Bashir has no problem overcoming this obstacle. Although the emotions are conceived 
through drawings, the emotions of each character feel completely real. Using artistic drawings and computer design, the film is able to manipulate the characters’ movement and behaviors in a way that it has the same affect, if not a stronger affect, than if they were real human beings. The animation was amazing and proved to be an extremely effective way to tell a story, but one of the most impactful moments in the film comes from the single scene of live-action footage that appears in the film, and rightfully should be only shown as it was originally shot; actual news footage regarding some of the aftermath in Beirut.
Bottom line: Waltz With Bashir is captivating and visually stunning. The film is not the most uplifting of features, but it keeps your attention as the film beautifully transitions between past and present, fantasy and memory. In the film, you do have to pay attention to what sides are fighting in the war, otherwise you may get a little lost in the political conflicts. However, the images and interviews are so concise they are able to speak for themselves.
See It, Skip It, or Rent It? Definitely rent it. You could watch the film on mute and still be impressed.
For more info: Waltz With Bashir is available at your local video store or online at Netflix.com®.
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