Waltz with Bashir

Waltz with Bashir: A Lebanon War Story
Ari Folman and David Polonsky
978-0-805088922

First impressions: There's a lot to this one. As with many other graphic novels, there is a lot said, without a lot being said. It highlights something that many of us didn't know or forgot about; teaching us again about history or reminding us of it.

This isn't an easy book to read. I am saddened to admit that I don't know much of what went on, being very young when this occurred. But it does highlight a failing of my own, and I have a feeling over the next few graphic novels, I'm about to get a major education.

It should also be noted that the movie came first. Although the movie came out of the author's love of graphic novels, and the animated medium allowed for better expression.

To Sum: A gentleman realizes he has no recollections of a massacre that he was present for and goes and talks to others that served with him to find out what happened, and if he was really there.

What to Watch Out For: Well, this is dealing with a 19 year old during the Lebanon war during 1982. There is a scene of a sexual nature, there's fighting, there's blood, there's the shooting of dogs. And the final pictures (actual photographs) of bodies in the street. There's also the idea that there was very little for the soldiers to do to prevent what happened. Oh, and there's a massacre of innocent people.

Where to shelve: The movie is rated R, and that would mean 17+. That would mean adult for my library.

Should a library have it: Honestly, yes. The graphic novel, from what I've read, has been adapted from the movie. Meaning something things have been presented differently as there's no soundtrack, no animation. And as I pointed out, I don't remember much of this going on. I'm sure it was on the news, but I had all but forgotten, if ever I knew. It's not a happy-go-lucky, feel-good novel. But it does show us a different side of oppression - not the oppressor, nor the oppressed, but the witness who can do nothing, or who is helping the oppressed without knowing/knowing it's wrong.

Other links and reviews:

Metropolitan Books Publishes Waltz with Bashir—the Graphic Novel

http://www.grovel.org.uk/waltz-with-bashir/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-engelhardt/iwaltz-with-bashiri-the-g_b_160565.html
http://dejiridoo.com/blog1/reviews/full-reviews/waltz-for-bashir-graphic-novel/
http://middleeast.about.com/od/booksopinions/fr/me090308a.htm

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/122371/waltz_with_bashir%3A_popular_animated_film_released_as_a_graphic_novel/

http://middleeast.about.com/od/booksopinions/fr/me090308a.htm
http://www.zimbio.com/Ari+Folman/articles/19/GRAPHIC+NOVEL+FRIDAY+WALTZ+BASHIR
http://www.zcommunications.org/waltz-with-bashir-part-1-by-ari-folman
http://www.zcommunications.org/waltz-with-bashir-part-2-by-ari-folman
http://open.salon.com/blog/booknut/2009/02/06/waltz_with_bashir
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/39265