Film Review: 1982 Massacre (Sabra and Shatila) Rendered Through Dark, Distorted Lens

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1982 Massacre Rendered Through Dark, Distorted Lens

Ali Gharib

WASHINGTON, Jan 5 (IPS) - Recently opened in wide release in the United States, Ari Folman's new animated documentary detailing Israeli involvement in the Sabra and Shatila massacre sheds new light on the Israeli side of that conflict, as well as the one unfolding today.

"Waltz With Bashir", already an award-winning documentary and the official Israeli submission for best foreign language film to the U.S. Academy Awards, gives the perspective of Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldiers and their involvement in the events in West Beirut in 1982.

It's a harrowing tale of post-traumatic stress disorder. And while the events of Sabra and Shatila are distinctly different than the current situation in Gaza, there are lessons to be learned from a quarter-century ago.

The film opens with pack of 26 snarling dogs running down a street. They collect below a balcony with a lone figure smoking -- Folman's friend and fellow IDF veteran, Boaz Rein-Buskila.

Cut to a bar in Israel in 2006. Folman is chatting with Rein-Buskila over drinks. The conversation and the nightmare shown moments before are rendered in dark and brooding animated sequences.

The viewer quickly learns the modus operandi of Folman's creative documentary: audio interviews are animated, as are the recollections and flashbacks described. (All the interviews are real, though Beiz-Buskila and another of Folman's friends elected to have theirs re-voiced.)

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http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=45299

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