MOVIE: LEBANON SCENE: 55:30-1:00
War is bloody, violent and chaotic. However, the portrayal of war in cinema is glorified and romanticized on the silver screen. It is rare that we see a depiction of war for what it is; In the Israeli film Lebanon there are many scenes that showcase the horror of war and the fear that it brings. One scene in particular to me stands out above all else: For five minutes between 55:00 and 1:00:00 director Samuel Maoz was able to showcase human brutality, and how often soldiers are by virtue of ignorance oblivious to the true horrors that there are partaking in. Lebanon is a unique film that takes place almost entirely within the confines of a tank, it is in this closed space where we see the four main characters Hertzel, Shmulik, Assi and Yigal deal with personal conflicts as well as the fierce combat outside. Throughout the film we are only able to see the outside …show more content…
It is in this moment that we see the POW start to speak. The scene quickly turns chaotic as the POW’s cries get louder and louder and the soldiers start to yell over one another, attempting to find the source of panic. The shot then turns to face the POW as we are listening to his screams and the others around him struggle for a solution. At this point the audience very clearly knows the cause for concern, but the soldiers themselves are clueless pawns.. The screaming and chaos in the scene completely contrast the peace and order that accompanied the Phalangist’s presence.This shows the brutal truth about the split second changes in circumstances that occur in war and throughout this film. When the soldiers feel that everything is under control, it is only due to their ignorance about the situation that they are placed in. The scene ends with a return to relative calm when the soldiers render the POW unconscious with a shot of morphine, and are no longer forced to decipher his
War is bloody, violent and chaotic. However, the portrayal of war in cinema is glorified and romanticized on the silver screen. It is rare that we see a depiction of war for what it is; In the Israeli film Lebanon there are many scenes that showcase the horror of war and the fear that it brings. One scene in particular to me stands out above all else: For five minutes between 55:00 and 1:00:00 director Samuel Maoz was able to showcase human brutality, and how often soldiers are by virtue of ignorance oblivious to the true horrors that there are partaking in. Lebanon is a unique film that takes place almost entirely within the confines of a tank, it is in this closed space where we see the four main characters Hertzel, Shmulik, Assi and Yigal deal with personal conflicts as well as the fierce combat outside. Throughout the film we are only able to see the outside …show more content…
It is in this moment that we see the POW start to speak. The scene quickly turns chaotic as the POW’s cries get louder and louder and the soldiers start to yell over one another, attempting to find the source of panic. The shot then turns to face the POW as we are listening to his screams and the others around him struggle for a solution. At this point the audience very clearly knows the cause for concern, but the soldiers themselves are clueless pawns.. The screaming and chaos in the scene completely contrast the peace and order that accompanied the Phalangist’s presence.This shows the brutal truth about the split second changes in circumstances that occur in war and throughout this film. When the soldiers feel that everything is under control, it is only due to their ignorance about the situation that they are placed in. The scene ends with a return to relative calm when the soldiers render the POW unconscious with a shot of morphine, and are no longer forced to decipher his