This is a film I have waited months to see. I am not sure if it played in pittsburgh, I am surprised if it didnt. Here is the internet link, with explanation of film and clips.
The film is a black and white anime, with an ending that is color photographs.
The main character (the actual director of film, Ari Folman) of the film is in therapy, he has bad dreams of 26 dogs chasing and attacking him. This dream is from when he was 19 yrs old, and a member of the Israeli Defense Forces, invading Lebanon in 1982 to eliminate palestinian terror missle attacks on israel. Unknown to the troops and the Israeli citizens, there was a secret plan authorized by Arik Sharon, Minister of Defense, to drive all the way to Beirut and install Bashir Gemayal as leader of Lebanon. Bashir was a Lebanonize Christian, he agreed to be allied with Israel, in opposition of Syria and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). As the IDF forces converged on Beirut, Bashir was assassinated by a large bomb, probably orchestrated by Syria through the PLO. Bashir's militia, the Phalangist Militia, was out for revenge: under cover by IDF, the Phalangist troops entered Shabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps and apprehended PLO terrorists. But Israeli troops could see civilians being executed. Genocide. Radio and phone calls were made. Sharon knew about it. Finally, IDF troops on the scene order the Phalangists to stop. They stopped, probably due to exhaustion (lining up women and children and executing them does take an emotional toll on soldiers). now, 25 yrs later, our main character is told to talk to other soldiers, his comrades, about the war. He searches and tracks down others in his unit. They too have little memory of events. But as they talk, suppressed memories come back. In heartbreaking scenes, we see the scared IDF troops entering Lebanon, firing constantly, finally being pinned down by snipers. There is much death and destruction. These are memories of events that the young IDF soldiers have repressed for many years, and for good reason: sane people find it difficult to confront such memories. But it all comes out. the ending is overwhelming.
The film is controversial, because the genocide of the Sabra and Shatila camps cannot be separated, for some, by the threat posed by Israel of the PLO on its norther border. It was war, IDF soldiers were being killed. some feel, so single out the genocide of these two campus without keeping it in perspective with the larger war against terror Israel was fighting is to not do justice to the IDF troops. Afterall, they didnt do the shooting. they followed orders, they covered the Phalangist militia.
Are there rules to war? I have had officers as students, and they tell me yes, there are rules, morality guidelines. At least they say so in class. Out of class, they are skeptical : rules? in war? come on......you ever been in war? ....no....then you wouldn't ask......
How far does one go to protect the security of one's countrymen? Kill all the enemy and let god sort them out? Killing civilians has lots of precedent, just start reading the bible starting with book of Joshua - the bible is full of genocide, civilians being massacred, surrending armies being massacred, entire people disappearing from history (like the Ammonites). So how is this different? Isn't genocide just part of being human? How often has it happened in our lifetimes?
Very controversial movie. Absolutely unforgetable. Outstanding. Disturbing. Sad.
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