Lebanon

Plot

During the First Lebanon War in 1982, a lone tank and a paratroopers platoon are dispatched to search a hostile town.

Release Year: 2009

Rating: 7.0/10 (5,050 voted)

Critic's Score: 85/100

Director:
Samuel Maoz

Stars: Yoav Donat, Itay Tiran, Oshri Cohen

Storyline
June, 1982 – The First Lebanon War. A lone tank and a paratroopers platoon are dispatched to search a hostile town – a simple mission that turns into a nightmare. The four members of a tank crew find themselves in a violent situation that they cannot contain. Motivated by fear and the basic instinct of survival, they desperately try not to lose themselves in the chaos of war.

Cast:

Yoav Donat
–

Shmulik

Itay Tiran
–

Assi

Oshri Cohen
–

Hertzel

Michael Moshonov
–

Yigal

Zohar Shtrauss
–

Gamil

(as Zohar Strauss)

Dudu Tassa
–

Syrian Captive

Ashraf Barhom
–

1st Phalangist

(as Ashraf Barhum)

Fares Hananya
–

2nd Phalangist

Reymond Amsalem
–

Lebanese Mother

(as Reymonde Amsellem)

Bian Antir
–

Lebanese Father

Aisha
–

Lebanese child

Fatima
–

Lebanese child

(as Fatma)

Khaled Salam
–

Lebanese Boy

(as Khaled Salama)

Iad Abu Nama
–

BMW Driver

Hussein Mahagna
–

Truck Driver

Details

Official Website:
CTV International [France] |
Official site |

Release Date: 15 October 2009

Filming Locations: Israel

Opening Weekend: $17,145
(USA)
(8 August 2010)
(2 Screens)

Gross: $367,798
(USA)
(19 December 2010)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

The phosphor that is frequently referred to in the film is actually napalm.

Goofs:

Anachronisms:
During the first part of film the tank zooms in on shelf with a bunch of 7 Up cans. The cans all have the current 7 Up graphics despite the films' 1982 setting.

User Review

How did this win Venice?

Rating: 3/10

As a human relationship movie it is very standard, the usual war is
hell BS, standard, predictable, nothing noteworthy. The dilemma of
killing, the crew cracking up, its over the top, and all been done
before and better. It reeks of Israeli propaganda, 'the human face' of
the Israeli soldier, under the guise of the directors own 'traumatic'
experiences in Lebanon.

As a war movie it is beyond unrealistic (but lacking suspension of
disbelief). I can understand the theatrical requirement to increase the
size of the interior of the turret, but the lack of helmets worn by the
tank crew, I don't get (probably the actors agents demanding that we
see their pretty faces), they would be dead after half an hour of
driving off road, nor could they communicate with each other.

The lack of chain of command, team work and camaraderie in the tank is
not credible. Tankers do not and cannot work this way. The only
realistic moment is when Herzel (Oshri Cohen) shouts at the rest of the
crew that they are going to get him killed because of their inability
to function.

And for those that thought that peeing in the ammo box was shockingly
realistic, not so. In a Centurion tank, you use a used canon shell
casing, so that you can throw it out though the shell loading portal,
without the need to open a hatch.

I also served in Lebanon, from 1985-1987, in an IDF tank.