Waltz with Bashir

2008 cartoon

Rating: 17/20

Plot: Ari can't remember much about his experiences in the 1982 Lebanon War. He finds various friends and combat peers and interviews them, gradually piecing together enough memories to complete a picture of his dark past.

This is a stunning animated documentary. The quiet, reflective narration of director Ari Folman combines with apocalyptic, hallucinatory imagery so well here. I imagine what I felt as I watched the memories unfold is close to what Ari Folman felt as he lived the experiences, and that in itself is impressive. It takes a little while to get used to the unique animation style (a conglomeration actually with mostly cut-outs), but once I did, I had no problem feeling the pictures. It's like watching a series of somebody else's nightmares. There are tiny details (shadows, slight gestures, subtle movements) that make the scenes incredibly poignant. The use of animation freeing up the director to explore his memories in such a visually unique way succeeds in making it all look exactly like dreamy, half-forgotten memories should look. There's really some unforgettable stuff throughout this; the frightening beginning and haunting ending that bookend are especially powerful. I also liked the soundtrack by Max Richter who, after hearing The Blue Notebook a few years ago, I decided would be good at just this sort of thing. Waltz with Bashir definitely isn't an easy watching experience (as a matter of fact, it's pretty devastating), but it's an artistic triumph and well worth checking out.

Recommended by Cory.