“Waltz With Bashir,” an innovative animated documentary that focuses on Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon, was selected as 2008’s best picture on Saturday by the National Society of Film Critics.

 

However, “Happy-Go-Lucky,” Mike Leigh’s film about an incurable optimist whose pink perspective is tried out, collected four of the 10 awards brought into play. The movie won best director and best screenplay for Mike Leigh, while Sally Hawkins was chosen best actress and Eddie Marson was honored with the best supporting actor award.

 

Sean Penn won best actor for his performance in Gus Van Sant’s critically acclaimed biopic “Milk,” about groundbreaking gay politician Harvey Milk.

 

Hanna Schygulla was named best supporting actress for her role in “The Edge of Heaven,” a Turkish-German picture whose focal points are failure and absolution.

 

“Waltz With Bashir” won the race for best picture by defeating “Happy-Go-Lucky” and the Pixar animated blockbuster “WALL-E.” Depicting various interviews, flashbacks and visions, the film follows Israeli filmmaker and former soldier Ari Folman’s attempt to recover his own long-lost memories with regard to a mass murder that took place during the war.

 

The best nonfiction film award went to “Man on Wire,” while the best cinematography honor was collected by “Slumdog Millionaire” and Ken Jacobs’ “Razzle Dazzle” won best experimental film.

 

Forty-nine of the National Society of Film Critics’ 63 members cast their votes on Saturday during a meeting that took place at the esteemed theater-district lair Sardi’s Restaurant. The group’s picks are often poles apart from Oscar voters’ selections.