Lebanon on DVD now

Writer and director Maoz’ semi autobiographical story of a Lebanon tank crew is set in the first Lebanon war – June 1982, The film follows Shmulik who joins the tank crew on a mission to a nearby town. The situation goes from uncomfortable to perilous quickly, with the tanks instruments failing and the crew falling apart no-one seems to really know who to trust and what is really going on.

The film is entirely set within the restricted confines of the tank itself daylight is only glimpsed through the hatch or crosshairs or when their senior officer drops in to give orders, The film vividly portrays a feeling of chaos and claustrophobia in the cramped conditions. The viewer is brought in as close as possible to the conditions that crew are working under – Im pleased that smells are not conveyed by films!

The film portrays the futility of war, it shows the terrible conditions, tension, chaos, confusion and the feeling of the blind leading the blind. A good film – although a heavy watch too. 

Director: Samuel Maoz

Cast:

Yoav Donat                  Shmulik

Itay Tiran                       Assi

Oshri Cohen                 Hertzel

Michael Moshonov      Yigal