Category — Critic’s Corner

http://www.siouxwire.com/2008/05/ari-folmans-waltz-with-bashir.html

             Shown on October 2, 2008 at the 46th Annual New York Film Festival, Waltz with Bashir directed by Ari Folman tells the story of an Israeli war veteran as he struggles to recount his memories and experiences during the 1982 Lebanon War. His failure to recollect his entire experience turns into an obsession. Through his travels and discussions with former friends, psychologists, reporters, and comrades, the narrator attempts to piece together his broken memories during his time as a soldier.

             Despite the use of this unconventional medium, animation, director Ari Folman succeeds in depicting the story in which veterans of any war can relate to: Lebanese, Vietnam, or Iraq War. However, it doesn’t take any military experience or knowledge to be entranced with Folman’s autobiographical story. [Read more →]

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/09/26/theater/26vow.ready.html

            Irena’s Vow, presented at Baruch’s Performing Arts Center, tells the story of Irena Gut Opdyke during the German occupation of western Poland in World War II.

            After being raped, abused, tortured, and beaten by Russian troops, Irena was forced to work in a munitions factory in Poland. Overwhelmed with tough work and long hours, Irena faints and is confronted with Major Rugemer. Luckily, she is transferred and given lighter duties, and now also supervises the Jews who work in the laundry. When Major Rugemer gets re-assigned, he makes Irena his housekeeper. After overhearing that all the Jews will be sent to death camp, Irena risks her life by hiding twelve Jews in the Rugemer’s villa. With each passing day Irena and her twelve Jewish friends must combat the tension and adversity they are faced with. After all, the fates of both Irena and the Jews are in jeopardy. [Read more →]

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Hi class,  I enjoyed getting to go see Clay with all of you tonight. I found a myspace page for the show that I wanted to pass on. It has some of the songs from the show and some photos from other productions. I look forward to reading your reactions and thoughts!

We have all seen the horrific events that take place at the front lines during times of war. They have been depicted in countless films and documentaries about World War II and the holocaust, Vietnam, the Iraq War. No amount of movie productions can ever let us relive every story of every bloody conflict that our own human race has caused. Nonetheless, stories of war allow us to learn of our past mistakes as a people and show us the true flaws of mankind. In his new animated film, Waltz With Bashir, Ari Folman documents his experiences in the first Lebanese War and the 1982 massacre at Sabra and Shatila. Through artfully unique animation, intense research, and beautiful music, Folman creates a tragic and emotionally intense film. [Read more →]

           The American flag wasn’t the only thing with flying colors at the Barrow Street Theatre this September 25^th. Each actor performing in “In Conflict” successfully fulfilled the roles of various soldiers being interviewed after returning home from the war. Most of the actors even had to play several different roles of soldiers with completely opposite experiences.

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The off Broadway play In Conflict is a production in conflict. Its shortcoming lies in the director’s (Douglas C. Wager) inability to transform Yvonne Latty’s text (In Conflict: Iraq War Veterans Speak Out on Duty, Loss, and the Fight to Stay Alive) into anything more than an embellished audio book.
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Bartlett Sher’s revival of the 1950’s Rogers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific” is more like a rebirth. The production illuminates the controversy that played such a big part in the original production. Unlike most revivals, “South Pacific” is not a foggy reenactment of an outdated show; it is brought to us in full color, with all the vivacity of the first showing.
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The Holocaust, not again!

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“Waltz with Bashir” is director Ari Folman’s autobiographical documentary about a soldier’s pilgrimage to remember his service in the first Lebanese war. Countless interviews with former comrades help to jog Folman’s memory; slowly bits and pieces of his experiences surface, finally culminating in the monumental realization that he played an active role in the 1982 massacre in Sabra and Shatila.

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