// War Literature

Waltz with Bashir is a groundbreaking film in many ways- the animation is obviously a strategic choice, the intense impact of the first scene sets the stage for the anxiety ridden milieu for the next hour and a half, the act of killing animals also echoes throughout, allowing the audience to realize the effects of war cover all bases, not just human casualties. One reoccurring phrase, however, rings prominent, even after two weeks of having viewed the film. Whenever they are on the field and they have to start shooting, the commander often says “Shoot! Start shooting!” and the soldiers reply “at what?” The commander then exclaims “How should I know? Just shoot!”
The manner in which this very phrase is repeated throughout the film exemplifies the utter and total chaos of war. They don’t even know what they’re shooting at sometimes, they just know they have to shoot. At what? At other soldiers? At civilians? They don’t know. When the soldier replies “How should I know? Just shoot!” it is actually almost humorous. The sincere innocence and youth of every soldier is hidden beneath their uniforms and tough exteriors but the bottom line is that no one is even sure why there has to be a war. Can’t anything be resolved without the colossal effect that war has on absolutely everything?
This is a revolutionary momentous film because it addresses and depicts so many aspects of war, without narrowing its focus on just one. The up-close and personal interviews with each soldier are poignant, as each one still has their own cross to bear. One guy is haunted by reoccurring nightmares years after the war took place, another suppresses all memories, and a third character suffers from guilt and shame. The audience begins to empathize with and even like the characters- their soft-spoken manner during the retellings resonates against the overpowering chaos of the animations.