Waltz with Bashir

 

Directed by Ari Folman

One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari Folman about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there’s a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can’t remember a thing anymore about that period of his life.

Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images …

Production of Bridgit Folman Film Gang (Israel)/Les Film D’ici (France)/Razor Film Produktion (Germany) In co-production with Arte France/ITVS International

  • “WALTZ WITH BASHIR plays out as one of the most profoundly explosive animated documentaries I have ever seen, and is clearly one of the best pictures of the year.” -- New York Observer
  • “The animated documentary WALTZ WITH BASHIR is a memoir, a history lesson, a combat picture, a piece of investigative journalism and an altogether amazing film.” -- New York Times
  • “WALTZ WITH BASHIR might be the year’s most singular visionary experience available at the movies, and catapults [Director Ari] Folman from the obscurity of Israeli TV onto the world stage.” -- Salon.com
  • “A brave, personal and truly original piece of filmmaking.” -- Newsday
  • “The best movie of 2008? The most revealing war film ever made? The greatest animated feature to come out of Israel? All these descriptions could apply to WALTZ WITH BASHIR.” -- San Francisco Chronicle
  • “A powerful, poignant and provocative film, told in an unconventional and effective fashion.” -- USA Today
  • “WALTZ WITH BASHIR, a movie about memory, is as devious and subversive as it is brilliant and nightmarish.” -- The Washington Post
  • “Unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, WALTZ WITH BASHIR will change your ideas about the possibility of film.” -- The Associated Press

Funding for ITVS International films is made possible by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation,the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

More information about the film is available from the ITVS website.  Visit to learn more about Waltz with Bashir at-a-glance.