Gideon Levy is one of the few writers to not have fallen head over heels in love with Waltzing with Bashir, Ari Folman's animated,surrealistic documentary of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 and its lasting effects on those who perpetrated it. Writing in Ha'aretz he describes the film as “stylish, sophisticated, gifted and tasteful - but propaganda.” Propoganda in that it focuses on the perpetrators, the invaders, and the impact of the war on them while neglecting to consider, at least on a human level, the victims, the Palestinian refugees that were massacred by the Falange proceeding with an Israeli green light and star shells and illumination rounds aiding them in their search for victims.
Levy continues: "Then, suddenly, the illustrations give way to the real shots of the horror of the women keening amid the ruins and the bodies. For the first time in the movie, we not only see real footage, but also the real victims. Not the ones who need a shrink and a drink to get over their experience, but those who remain bereaved for all time, homeless, limbless and crippled. No drink and no shrink can help them. And that is the first (and last) moment of truth and pain in Waltz with Bashir."
Levy's criticism of the film may be inspired by events far more recent than Sabra and Shatila. On the day that Folman accepted his Oscar, Israeli forces were relentlessly pounding Gaza.
Folman chose to remain silent. As Israeli rockets, bombs, tanks and artillery created scenes reminiscent of Beirut in 1982 Folman choose to draw no parallels. That was less honest than anything in his film.
It also compels one to draw attention to another member of the team that produced Waltzing with Bashir. Yoni Goodman was animation director on the film. He recently produced a short animated film for Gisha--Legal Center for Freedom of Movement. An organization that "calls on the State of Israel to fully open Gaza's crossings and to allow the real victims of the closure - 1.5 million human beings - the freedom of movement necessary to realize their dreams and aspirations." Closed Zone illustrates the consequences of Israel's illegal closure of Gaza. There is a link to it above.
Good point about Folman and Gaza.
ReplyDeleteGideon Levy I rate. His criticism is right on the mark. Waltzing with Bashir has been embraced by quite a few in the Israeli establishment, for reasons that have to do with humanizing their role, their angst - emphasis on 'their'. Yeah Levy is right... "propaganda" it is... but also stylish and beautifully produced, so a lot more seductive.