The emotions of soldiers at war is a topic that has been explored in countless films over the years, including documentaries, buddy-films, patriotic films, and tragedies. Lebanon is a bit of all four genres. Filmed entirely inside a tank, it provides a novel perspective on the Israel-Lebanon war of 1982. A tank crew undertakes a mission – succeeding some times and failing at other moments – knowing only what they hear over the radio or through the vehicle’s scope. The soldiers are overwhelmed by the situation (and apparently incompetent) although this seems to be part of director Samuel Maoz’s message: the brutality of war is too much for almost anyone.
The structure of the film is incredibly innovative and it is the main feature of the work. Confined to close quarters and cut off from the outside world, the soldiers begin to fall apart. Bickering with each other and breaking down emotionally before they come together at the end to accomplish their goal. There are some casualties which repeat the theme that war is inherently senseless.
Though the film has received many accolades, whether one enjoys the film is closely tied to how much the viewer appreciates the premise. For some, a film like Waltz with Bashir is a better atypical work that explores how living in a warzone can affect a person. **