05 Jan 11
Director: Samuel Maoz
Israel
2009
92 min
Set on the first day of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, this tense and personal piece, based on the director’s own experiences, centres on the crew of a solitary Israeli tank who find themselves on a mission that rapidly degenerates into a nightmare. The narrative is set almost entirely within the confines of the vehicle, with external scenes only visible through the tank’s periscope, creating an eerie and claustrophobic atmosphere. The film avoids the usual war movie clichés in favour of an overwhelming sense of isolation and fear as the heavily-armoured vehicle is increasingly battered and damaged along with its occupants.