Review of Waltz with Bashir (2008) by Tom G — 14 Aug 2009

Deeply effective and totally original. Waltz with Bashir implements an interesting method of anti-war art. It uses the source audio from interviews with the director and funnels their stories into specific recollections of the Lebanon War, all of them with a surrealistic aura and a distinct visual potency.

This combination of real and unreal, in subject matter unfamiliar to broader audiences, conjures an unusual feeling of empathy. Unfortunately, the episodic structure and dream-like magic simultaneously drain out as a political agenda slowly takes the foreground.

Nonetheless, I admire Ari Folman telling his story, and with such creativity. It's an outstanding film with wonderful animation.