In his introduction to his film Waltz with Bashir, Ari Folman explained that this was both a personal story, but a very universal one at the same time. Although the story is about Folman’s own discovery of remembering the events of a massacre he witness while serving for the Israeli army in Lebanon in 1982, he recurs a theme that many war films have shown us: War is hell.
That isn’t the disrespect Folman’s work in any way, but instead speaks to the power he commands with the screen. That is because Folman has animated his documentary is a beautiful and haunting style that is hard to describe. Its partly anime, with some 3D backdrops. This isn’t just for the scenes that bring us back to Lebanon, but also scenes in which Folman animates his rediscovery of his memory.

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If this were just another documentary, it probably would be overlooked. But the animation (and also the amazing soundtrack, which includes classical pieces and 80s rock) elevates this film to a new height. Folman truly brings the horrors of war to life, whether darkly humorous or simply awe dropping. The screen flashes with dark yellows and strong visual images, like the opening of a pack of dogs smashing through a street. His visual sense simply cannot be described. Its both visceral yet humane, daring yet reserved.
And by the end, when Folman gives us the actual footage of the massacre, it’s a jaw dropper. We become partial to the animation—it allows us to feel like we’ve escaped on one level the horror. But Folman pulls us right back in. We are reminded that cinema can imitate life, but life still goes on, with all the tragedy and horror that surrounds it. And Folman makes one crucial point—he remains apolitical. The film never casts judgment on either side; it doesn’t need you. This is a story of soldiers and the problem of memory that surrounds their lives. Finding the truth is important to remember, not to accuse. And through his dramatic style, the film comes as a breath of fresh air, stylistically that is to say, to the film world. In recent years, animation has become more adult, with features like Persepolis or Waking Life. It’s a testement that creative filmmaking never has limits, and Waltz with Bashir is a beautiful and haunting example.