Lebanon

Lebanon, IL-FR-UK 2009 colour 92 min.
dir:  Samuel Maoz
pro:  Uri Sabag, Einat Bikel, Moshe Edery, Leon Edery, David Silber, Benjamina Mirnik, Ilann Girard, United King Films, Metro Communications, Paralite Films, Ariel Films, Arsam International
sc: Samuel Maoz
ph: Giora Bejach
mus: Benoit Delbecq
ed: Arik Lahav-Leibovich
cast: Yoav Donat, Itay Tiran, Oshri Cohen, Michael Moshonov, Zohar Shtrauss, Dudu Tassa, Ashraf Barhom, Reymond Amsalem
dis: Manana

 

The First Lebanon War – June, 1982. A lone tank is dispatched to search a hostile town that has already been bombarded by the Israel Air Force. What seems to be a simple mission gets gradually out of control and turns into a death trap, a shivering nightmare. Shmuel the gunner, Assi the commander, Herzl the loader and Yigal the driver are the tank’s crew. Four boys aged 20 plus who are operating a killing machine. They are not fighters, eager for battle, conquest or self-sacrifice. Entangled in the absurd and unfair war nets they are terrified to death by its horrors. They’re brave kids losing their innocence in the most brutal way and being mentally destroyed. A sharp basic instinct will push them to the limits as they struggle hard to survive in a situation they cannot contain anymore, desperately trying not to lose their humanity amid the chaos of war.

 

Venice IFF 2009 – Golden Lion, Nazareno Taddei Award, SIGNIS Award – Honorable Mention
Plus Camerimage 2009 – Golden Frog