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Product Description
It's June 1982, and Israel is launching an invasion of Lebanon. Four men assigned to take part in the first strike are put on the same tank detail -- Assi (Itay Tiran) is the commanding officer, Shmulik (Yoab Donat) is a gunner new to the outfit, Hertzel (Oshri Cohen) keeps the weapons loaded, and Yigal (Michael Moshonov) drives the machine. After being given their orders by Jamil (Zohar Strauss), the men set out towards the Lebanese border, recognizing little of what goes on outside beyond what can be seen through Yigal's tiny window; they occasionally stop to help fellow Israelis hurt in battle, but for the most part, they roll relentlessly onward, occasionally arguing amongst themselves, until they arrive at their destination, a town already bombed into rubble by the Israeli Air Force. Few of their allies remain in the city, putting the soldiers in a perilous situation when a band of Syrian resistance fighters lay siege to the tank.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, Blu-Ray/Region A/B/C DVD: LANGUAGES: Hebrew ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), Hebrew ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), Hebrew ( Dolby DTS-HD Master Audio ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Commentary, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: A handful of soldiers take a claustrophobic journey into the heart of war in this drama from Israeli writer and director Samuel Maoz. It's June 1982, and Israel is launching an invasion of Lebanon. Four men assigned to take part in the first strike are put on the same tank detail -- Assi (Itay Tiran) is the commanding officer, Shmulik (Yoab Donat) is a gunner new to the outfit, Hertzel (Oshri Cohen) keeps the weapons loaded, and Yigal (Michael Moshonov) drives the machine. After being given their orders by Jamil (Zohar Strauss), the men set out towards the Lebanese border, recognizing little of what goes on outside beyond what can be seen through Yigal's tiny window; they occasionally stop to help fellow Israelis hurt in battle, but for the most part, they roll relentlessly onward, occasionally arguing amongst themselves, until they arrive at their destination, a town already bombed into rubble by the Israeli Air Force. Few of their allies remain in the city, putting the soldiers in a perilous situation when a band of Syrian resistance fighters lay siege to the tank. Levanon (aka Lebanon) was an official selection at the 2009 Venice International Film Festival. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Thessaloniki Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, ...Lebanon (2009) ( Líbano ) ( Levanon ) (Blu-Ray)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 51 people found the following review helpful
By Keris Nine
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Blu-ray
Samuel Maoz's film, winner of a Golden Lion at the 2009 Venice Film Festival, is a powerful account of the start of the Lebanon war in 1982. Only 20 years old at the start of the war, the director was himself a gunner in one of the first Israeli tanks to go into the region, and filmed almost entirely from within the confines of an Israeli Defense Force tank, Lebanon consequently offers what feels like a disturbingly realistic first-hand experience.
The fact that the viewer remains locked in with the tank crew for the duration of the film doesn't mean that there's a lack of incident or spectacle in the film, rather it just becomes an even more intense experience. Be thankful also that you remain inside the tank, because it's slightly better than what can be seen of the horror that is taking place outside from the view of the gun sights - but only slightly. The crew are faced with a great deal of confusion over what exactly is going on, receiving conflicting orders and directions, wandering into dangerous territory with no clear objectives, not even sure who it is they are fighting. What are Syrians doing there, who are the Phalangists, and whose side are they even on?
It's a highly immersive experience and an effective one, just as in their own way both Waltz with Bashir and Beaufort were in their own deeply personal and stylised accounts of the same war.... Read more ›
The fact that the viewer remains locked in with the tank crew for the duration of the film doesn't mean that there's a lack of incident or spectacle in the film, rather it just becomes an even more intense experience. Be thankful also that you remain inside the tank, because it's slightly better than what can be seen of the horror that is taking place outside from the view of the gun sights - but only slightly. The crew are faced with a great deal of confusion over what exactly is going on, receiving conflicting orders and directions, wandering into dangerous territory with no clear objectives, not even sure who it is they are fighting. What are Syrians doing there, who are the Phalangists, and whose side are they even on?
It's a highly immersive experience and an effective one, just as in their own way both Waltz with Bashir and Beaufort were in their own deeply personal and stylised accounts of the same war.... Read more ›
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. P. Johnson
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
As mentioned elsewhere, this film takes the claustrophobia of 'Das Boot', then ratchets up a gear to the cramped insides of a modern battle tank, during the recent Israeli incursion into Lebanon. There are the usual war film stereotypes, the brave commander, the scared new boy, the abused prisoner, etc. However, that should not put you off. What sets this above recent war stories is the unusual technique of filming almost all the story through the electronic gun sight of the tank, often in night-vision. This makes for real suspense, and a lot of surprises. The actual issues of the war, with Syrians fighting against Israel, and Christian Lebanese militia helping the Israelis, is dealt with very lightly. But this film is not really about the war, it is about the close proximity of tank crews, the stifling atmosphere inside the hull, the noise and confusion of sudden, short firefights. It does not have a satisfactory conclusion but then war seldom does. Recommended for war film fans rather than serious students of Middle East conflict. I for one cannot recall a film like this. It is certainly not 'Sahara',the old Bogart tank film, and has no relationship to 'The Beast', a film set in Afghanistan with a Russian tank crew. It is truly a one off, seen through the sight.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Fran_mfs
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a film worth seeing but there are not a lot of laughs. The perspective is unusual and very claustrophobic but well done - you get a good sense of what it would be like to be inside the tank. I think it portrays well the dirty, tedious and frightening reality of this type of war, there is no glory here. Also interesting are the relationships between the soldiers and how they endure this particular hell. The futility of war and the fragility of life are exposed in this film.
By Tim Kidner
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Or, Das Boot, but in a tank, instead of a submarine.
At about half the length of that German WW2 based classic, Samuel Maoz's directorial debut is sharp, succinct and hard, pulling no punches. Viewing the outside world from their sardine can, in immense heat, is done through the jerky, sudden-zoom hopping periscopic sight.
Set in 1982 during the first Israeli/Lebanon war, Maoz draws on his actual own experience fighting in this conflict. The four Israeli conscripts in the tank go through just about every human experience and emotion - and this only follows 24 hours! The tank is unreliable and breaks down in very dangerous places and often will not start. A prisoner is left with them - making their cramped conditions even more so. Toward the end, a night battle rages, so you have green-screen night vision, plus the subtitles throughout, so if you're not shaken to bits emotionally, then your eyes will be.
Many will find it too much to bear, or be comfortable with. Others will bask in its gritty and gruesome oil, sweat and realism. It's fictional (as far as I know) and doesn't try to make broad statements but outlines the men's personal lives and how they react and cope - or not - with their - and others' actions, some of which are just too tragic to contemplate.
Overall, it's certainly an unusual approach that works, but only if it works for you. If it does, then it's a fine and hard-hitting war drama, if it doesn't, then you won't waste a second to press 'stop'.
At about half the length of that German WW2 based classic, Samuel Maoz's directorial debut is sharp, succinct and hard, pulling no punches. Viewing the outside world from their sardine can, in immense heat, is done through the jerky, sudden-zoom hopping periscopic sight.
Set in 1982 during the first Israeli/Lebanon war, Maoz draws on his actual own experience fighting in this conflict. The four Israeli conscripts in the tank go through just about every human experience and emotion - and this only follows 24 hours! The tank is unreliable and breaks down in very dangerous places and often will not start. A prisoner is left with them - making their cramped conditions even more so. Toward the end, a night battle rages, so you have green-screen night vision, plus the subtitles throughout, so if you're not shaken to bits emotionally, then your eyes will be.
Many will find it too much to bear, or be comfortable with. Others will bask in its gritty and gruesome oil, sweat and realism. It's fictional (as far as I know) and doesn't try to make broad statements but outlines the men's personal lives and how they react and cope - or not - with their - and others' actions, some of which are just too tragic to contemplate.
Overall, it's certainly an unusual approach that works, but only if it works for you. If it does, then it's a fine and hard-hitting war drama, if it doesn't, then you won't waste a second to press 'stop'.
By j.r
Format:DVD
Lebanon is a claustrophobic and harsh war film that is set inside a Tank. You only get ouside scenes with the view from the Tank itself. As someone who has sat through the full version of Das Boot(set almost entirely in a Submarine) more than once and loved it, I didn't find this, in many ways similar film dull(considering the small cast and lack of scenery), and actually would have liked the film to have a much longer running time(it's only 1hr 22 and then the credits). Like Das Boot the film mainly has the focus on a group of men in sweaty and tense circumstances in a war situation, following orders but not neccessarily wanting to. The film to me seemed very realistic and expertly made. I found the film to be quite educational. My only grumble is that it could easily have had a much longer running time.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
intense
A deserving prize winner. The idea of setting the entire film within the confines of a tank is clever - ramping up the feelings of fear, claustrophobia, discomfort and paranoia and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by thetruthshallsetyefree
3.0 out of 5 stars
Imaginative concept...but
Heard of this forth coming film & really thought "what an imaginative concept" - needing a director ..radical..on the edge..innovative - & sought it out . Bought it unseen ... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Treborus
2.0 out of 5 stars
Lebanon
What a disappointment. After reading several positive reviews I watched this film expecting to be wowed but it started as strangely as it finished. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Briggsy
3.0 out of 5 stars
An anti-war film from a tank perspctive
I was a soldier during the 1982 Lebanon War. I do not miss any film that is done about this ugly, unjustified war. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Profr R. Cohenalmagor
1.0 out of 5 stars
dreadful
What a silly film. The only bit of ouside the tank you see is filmed through the turret gunsight.... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Paul Day
4.0 out of 5 stars
interesting concept
Must admit it is indeed a novelty to see a film shot entirely from inside the tank.Wish some actual confrontations were shown. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Anil Narendra
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good
Arrived in good time, no complaints from the sender, reliable and quick. Would not hesitate to use again if the need arose.
Published 18 months ago by david moss
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific
Awesome film, brilliantly conceived and executed. Look no further to understand how war no makes sense on any level. Worth watching even if you nothing about Israel-Lebanon.
Published 19 months ago by T. Schreuders
4.0 out of 5 stars
Psychological
I was glad I watched this film, how the men reacted with each other, with others and in the war situation. I also have an interest in Israel. Read more
Published on 7 May 2011 by valpal
4.0 out of 5 stars
overhyped but still very watchable
well you don`t see much of the lebanon from the inside of the tank which i assume is a centurian, it is dirty cramped and no doubt really hot, the atmosphere is intense as the four... Read more
Published on 12 April 2011 by P. barton
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