Beaufort (2007)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Joseph Cedar

Writers:

Joseph Cedar (writer)
Ron Leshem (novel) (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | War

Plot:

The story of a group of Israeli soldiers stationed in an outpost prior to the withdrawal of forces of 2000.

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Israel | Lebanon | Anti War | Middle East Conflict

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Alon Abutbul	...	Kimchy
Daniel Brook	...	Pavel
Oshri Cohen	...	Liraz
Eli Eltonyo	...	Oshry
Gal Friedman	...	Balis
Nevo Kimchi	...	Avishai
Ohad Knoller	...	Ziv
Arthur Perzev	...	Shpitzer
Ygal Resnik	...	Rubi
Itay Schor	...	Emilio
Itay Tiran	...	Koris
Itay Turgeman	...	Zitlawy
Ami Weinberg	...	Amox Faran
Hanan Yishai	...	Nadav
Danny Zahavi	...	Meir

Also Known As:

Bufor (Israel: Hebrew title)

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

Israel

Language:

Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:Unrated | Sweden:11 | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-13

Filming Locations:

Nimrud Castle, Golan Heights, Israel

Company:

Keshet Broadcasting

Trivia:

Israel's official submission in the Foreign Language Film category for the 80th Academy Awards (2008). It was submitted after Bikur Ha-Tizmoret (2007) was disqualified by AMPAS (see Trivia there).

Quotes:

Shpitzer: [while playing electric keyboard and singing a song in memory of Zitlawy] # I won't be afraid to fall / Won't be afraid to grow / To sink or swim / To live or die #

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008) (TV)

Among the best of war films

I'm not a fan of the war genre, but Beaufort plays out more as a psychological thriller, and I find it hard to fault. There was an amazing blend of naturalism, stylistic devices, humour, touching human drama and suspense - at one time I jumped in my seat like I never have before.

The camera movements and cinematography are excellent and reinforce a sense of claustrophobia as a group of Israeli soldiers keep guard at an historic fort within southern Lebanon, but are virtually under siege by Hezbollah forces. Character development is also excellent with much authenticity. The film focuses on the idiosyncrasies of various characters and how they interact with each other under the circumstances. Respect for the commanding officer is sometimes lacking, resulting in a lack of discipline and friction at a difficult time.

I count this film as one of my favourite films in the genre, kind of a cross between Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket and Sam Mendes' Jarhead, and as good as either of these. Like these two films, there is an understated political critique in how young men are pawns in the games played by those who live comfortably away from the field of battle and death. Whether you like war films or not, this is must-see cinema.

I saw the film's screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival.