The film is recounting Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, coming as the Mideast was convulsed by war in the Gaza Strip. During the war, writer and director of the movie, Ari Folman faces painful suppressed memories of his participation to it. Initially, his memories are spotty but soon they come back bit by bit, with the help of friends and associates who were there with him, a therapist friend and even a trauma expert.

 

His fellow soldiers also have gaps in their memories, and they speak about their experience in Lebanon distantly. As the therapist helps the soldiers get their memories back, he explains that the memory is something dynamic therefore they soon will begin to have more flashbacks, a blend of hallucinations and recollections.

 

Folman’s character is quite out of reach, as any of the other characters are too. The animation movie has the effect of distancing its viewers from the real horrors of war.

 

“Waltz With Bashir” turns out to be a full-length animated documentary which won a Golden Globe for the best foreign language film category. Actually it is part autobiography, part dream and part therapy session. Anyway, it’s definitely unique, but in the end, Ari Folman’s film is more admirable as an intellectual exercise than a truly involving emotional experience.