WALTZ WITH BASHIR

Year: 2008
USA: Sony Pictures Classics
UK: Artificial Eye
Cast: Boaz Rein Buskila, Ori Sivan, Roni Dayg, Carmi Cnaa'n, Shmuel Frenkel, Ron Ben Yisahi, Dror Harazi, Prof Zahava Solomon
Director: Ari Folman
Countries: Israel / Germany / France / USA
Language: Hebrew (English subtitles)
USA & UK: 90 mins
USA Rated: R for some disturbing images of atrocities, strong violence, brief nudity and a scene of graphic sexual content
UK Certificate: 18 contains strong violence and brief explicit images
USA Release Date: 26 December 2008 (Limited Release - New York)
USA Release Date: 25 December 2008 (Limited Release - Los Angeles)
UK Release Date: 21 November 2008 (Limited Release)

Synopsis

Memories, dreams and nightmares collide in Ari Folman's deeply evocative and visually stunning feature, which set Cannes 2008 abuzz when it premiered in Competition this May. The talented Israeli director uses beautifully crafted, hand drawn animation, together with a powerful rock and classical soundtrack to create a captivating docu-drama, tracing the horrors and ethics of war from a young soldier's view point. The viewpoint is that of the director Ari himself, seeking clarity about his teenage military service - a period which he had blocked from his memory.

One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari Folman 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...