I agree with many other people in class in saying that is was probably the best movie we have seen so far, and an awesome one to end on! I feel like even if the movie was terrible I would have still been amazed, because it is not only a true story about Ari Folman's experience during the 1982 Lebanon War, but he is also directed, produced, and starred in it! Most of the people in the movie were playing themselves as well.
After doing some research on the movie, I learned that it took four years to make, which shows how much dedication the film took to make. Also, I thought that the movie was made by drawing over the animation, such as in the movies
Waking Life and
A Scanner Darkly, but actually it was made on a sound stage, then a storyboard was laid out and the animation was done using several different techniques.
I also learned that the perceptions of the film varied greatly person to person and country to country. What I found particularly interesting was that it was so well received in the US, but banned in Europe and at times not well received in Israel. One Israeli newspaper said that it was "stylish, sophisticated, gifted, and tasteful - but propaganda" because it didn't come right out and say that the Israeli Defense Forces were wrong in their actions. Conversely, others complained that it was anti-semitic because at one point a character compares the SS to the IDF's actions during the massacre.
Although I may not know as much about Israel and it's many issues as some of the people who have reviewed the movie, I thought that Folman's portrayal was very good. For one, it is through the eyes of a soldier. Soldiers are not supposed to form judgements about what they are doing, they are supposed to obey orders and do their job. Obviously what happened was very traumatic for him, or else he wouldn't have lost his memories of it. Also, I am sure the soldiers fighting beside him were his friends, why would they be betrayed as terrible people? Like him they were there because it was a requirement of them. I thought it took courage to make a movie about his own life, and to not portray anyone as perfect.
Wow i did not know that it took 4 years to make this film! i liked what you said about soldiers not making judgments they do what they are told. Your picture of the dogs makes me remember what i thought when watching the very beginning of the movie where the dogs are running. i thought of the dogs being evil, they travel in groups with one leader, i thought of soldiers. i know i am probably way off but that is what i thought. Great job on your post! :)
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