Good concept, poorly executed.

Don't Believe the Hype

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Basically produced by a single Israeli soldier capturing his war experience. He gets truly personal testimonies from everyday men and women pulled out of their day jobs to fight a war with no objectives.It is entirely content powered and exemplifies the core necessities for visual story telling. The impromptu interviews give invaluable insight into what is really going on during the war.And if you're really into on-the-ground reporting, here's the best part: It's shot 100% hand-held cinema verite and edited together in a chronological and bare bones fashion, probably on Windows Movie Maker for XP.I do not know the filmmaker's background, but it plays out like a middle school report. Except this report is being read in a calm, soothing, accented voice. It also contains heart wrenching stories and first hand testimonies that will make you appreciate these men an women, even if they are not fighting for your country.

This is a personal documentary, a video-diary of an Israeli soldier in the second Lebanese war. The director made this war, has served as an officer and felt that he had to testify. He filmed his fellow officers and soldiers, making this movie a true testimony of what Israeli soldiers think, fear, cry for, and hope...or not. Israeli government, the headquarters of Tsahal are hardly pointed out by the soldiers. Horror of war, lack of preparation are the ordinary life of these soldiers. It should be seen before "Waltz with Bashir". That is the sign of the vitality of Israeli civil power, despite the fact that the state could be seen sometimes as a violent state. Many Israeli movies and documentaries have been issued these past years, and are often heartbreaking. Haven't you seen it yet?