Israel's 'Waltz with Bashir,' on 1982 Lebanon War, nominated for Oscar - Haaretz - Israel News

Israel's 'Waltz with Bashir,' on 1982 Lebanon War, nominated for Oscar - Haaretz - Israel News

Last update - 18:53 23/01/2009


Israel's 'Waltz with Bashir,' on 1982 Lebanon War, nominated for Oscar

By Haaretz Service

Tags: lebanon war, israel news

'Waltz with Bashir,' the Israeli animated film depicting the 1982 Lebanon War, was officially nominated on Thursday for best foreign-language prize at the Academy Awards.

The Oscars will be held on February 22. Folman's film is up against French director Laurent Cantet's "The Class," German director Uli Edel's "The Baadr Meinhof Complex," Austrian director Gotz Spielmann's "Revanche" and Japanese director Yojiro Takita's "Departures."


The American film "Milk," on the life of slain Jewish gay activist and San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk, was nominated for an Oscar in seven categories, including best picture, original screenplay, costume design, directing, film editing and musical score.

Sean Penn, who starred in the title role as Harvey Milk, has also been named for best leading actor.

'Waltz with Bashir,' directed by Ari Folman, won best foreign film at the 66th Golden Globes ceremony in Hollywood earlier this month.

Folman's critically-acclaimed film traces the author's journey to put together his memories from his time as an Israeli soldier during the invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and later the massacres at the Sabra and Shatilla refugee camps in Beirut.

The film uses a striking combination of frame-by-frame and computer generated animation to create a powerful and at times surreal portrayal of war and the way memory plays tricks on the mind.

The film was screened in Lebanon last Saturday, although it is officially banned in that country.

The documentary has already been screened in Ramallah and may soon be shown in the Arab gulf states as well, Folman told Haaretz.

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