Synopsis

Based on a true story, the film is a quest into the director’s memory for the missing pieces from the days of the Lebanon War in the mid 80s. 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…

Ari Folman

After completing his military service, Ari Folman ventured out on his dream trip to circle the world with a backpack. Just two weeks and two countries into the trip, Ari realized traveling was not for him, so he settled into small guesthouses in Southeast Asia and wrote letters to his friends at home, letters in which he totally fabricated the perfect trip. One whole year of being in one place and writing down the fruits of his fantastical imagination convinced him to return home and study cinema. Between 1991 – 1996, he directed documentary specials for TV, mainly in the occupied territories. Ari made his initial attempt at animation in his series “The Material that Love is Made of" – each episode opens with five minutes of documentary animation which depicts scientists presenting their theories on the evolution of love. This successful attempt at documentary animation propelled Ari to develop the unique format of “Waltz with Bashir”.

Selected works:

Made in Israel (2001), Saint Clara (1996), Comfortably Numb (1991)

Selected awards:
  Golden Globe Awards for Best Foreign Language Film,Best Animated Feature (Asia Pacific Screen Awards),  Best Animated Feature (Los Angeles Film Critics Association), Special Jury Prize (Tallinn IFF), Nagrada publike / Audience Award (Warsaw IFF), Grand prize (Tokyo FF)

Selected festivals:
Cannes IFF, Sarajevo IFF, Toronto IFF, Ottawa IAF, London IFF, Melbourne IFF