Lebanon (2009)

From NetFlix:

In this claustrophobic drama by first-time director Samuel Maoz — a veteran of the early ’80s Israel/Lebanon conflict in which the film is set — four Israeli soldiers command a tank in a situation that becomes increasingly tense and chaotic. Like Das Boot before it, most of the action is confined to the stark interiors of that tank, as the men wrestle with fear, anger and their own consciences in the face of possible death and worse.

As soon as you finish watching this grubby film which takes place entirely in an Israeli tank, you will probably rush to take a shower.

It might help to read some background on the first Lebanon war. Probably all you need to know is that Israel was aligned with the Phalangists (Christian Arabs) in their fight against Syria. And even that does not really matter. Essentially this is a study of a team of Israeli soldiers manning an old, unreliable, filthy dirty, and leaking tank which may or may not start when needed. These men start out with clean faces and by the end of the film their faces are black with grease, dirt, grime, and sweat. Your only view of the outside world is through the sight lenses of the gunner-driver. Inside this bleak world the men argue, tell jokes, become psychotic, make mistakes, and perhaps die.

As film-making goes, this was well-done. For me the personal interactions were riveting. But it is easy to see that this intense film is not for everyone.

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