Waltz with Bashir

In 2006, filmmaker Ari Folman reconnects with his old friend Boaz, who shares his haunting nightmares. Boaz is troubled by visions of 26 furious dogs racing through Tel Aviv, symbolizing deeper trauma from their past.

Boaz recounts his terrifying experience during the 1982 Lebanon War, where he was forced to kill dogs to prevent them from alerting villagers. This grim reality highlights the harrowing choices soldiers had to make during wartime.

Ari, who also served in the Lebanon War, is disturbed to discover he has no recollection of his experiences from that time. This leads him to explore the possibility of hidden memories related to the war.

That night, Ari has a disturbing vision of himself and two comrades playing in the Mediterranean waters near Beirut. The vision is illuminated by flares, triggering a haunting but unclear memory connected to the Sabra and Shatila massacre.

Ari visits a childhood friend who is now a therapist, seeking help to understand his troubling visions. The therapist advises Ari to connect with fellow soldiers who were present in Beirut, emphasizing the unreliable nature of memory.

Ari interviews friends and fellow soldiers to piece together his fragmented memories from the war. These conversations begin to reveal the larger narrative surrounding the events he witnessed during the conflict.

Ari also consults Israeli TV reporter Ron Ben-Yishai, who documented the war in Beirut. This adds another layer to Ari's understanding of the events, providing real-world accounts of the atrocities.

As Ari pieces together his past, he realizes he was positioned to support the Israeli-allied Lebanese Christian Phalange militia. He acknowledges their involvement in the massacre that he only learned about after the fact.

Ari grapples with his feelings of responsibility for the actions taken during the massacre, despite not being directly involved. This internal conflict highlights the psychological burden carried by veterans.

Ari concludes that the gaps in his memory serve as a defense mechanism against the trauma of his past. This realization is bittersweet, as it underscores the complexity of memory and survival in war.

The film culminates in a poignant scene where animated sequences blend with actual news footage. This powerful combination captures the tragic aftermath of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer.

Through his journey, Ari begins to understand the broader context of the events that unfolded during the war. Each revelation layers his understanding of both personal and collective trauma experienced by soldiers.

As the story draws to a close, Ari faces the burden of what he has unearthed. The act of recalling memories forces both him and others to confront the horrors of their past, no matter how painful.

The film leaves viewers reflecting on the impact of war on individuals and society. By exploring personal stories, it highlights how collective trauma affects both soldiers and the communities involved.

Ultimately, Ari’s journey represents the struggle to reconcile past trauma with present reality. The narrative emphasizes that understanding one's history is essential for healing and moving forward.