To Aylios #6:
I am Israeli and not a leftist.
This review is full of half-truths and distortions. The film is not just about recovering Ari Folman’s lost memories but about the war experiences of the people he interviewed. Because two of them did not want to use their actual names or record their interviews does not diminish from their testimonies.
Ariel Sharon was not a Nazi and Israeli soldiers did not participate in the massacre in Sabra and Shatilla (plainly shown in the film), but the fact that he and some members of the Israeli command in Beirut knew what was happening and did nothing to stop it for several days was a crime and those responsible were investigated and punished.
Waltz with Bashir was first funded by Israel Channel 8 TV (documentary station) but they only gave 120 thousand dollars, Folman had to turn to outside funding since the film ended up costing 2 million to produce and 4 years. The writer makes it look like the film came out the way it did because of who funded it.
My only criticism of the film is it didn’t emphasize enough why Israel went into Lebanon to begin with in 1982. But it was told through the eyes of a 19 year old kid, who just found himself in war and the story started there.
It’s a brilliant film from many standpoints and I am proud of Israelis for making it, we can look at ourselves critically and that testifies to our morality. The Christian Lebanese massacre of Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatilla refugee camp was Nazi-like and should be recalled.
