SPC Saves a Last ‘Waltz’ at Cannes

Days before the winners at this year’s edition of the Cannes film festival were announced, a picture that was deemed as a potential contender for the Palme and I would say was one among the top three buzz pics on everyone’s lips – almost every film critic or market person I spoke to agreed that the animated documentary film had a fair chance. Though it went home empty handed, Variety reports that after finding a good return for their investment with Persepolis that Sony Pictures Classics has laid claim to Waltz with Bashir.

Directed by Ari Folman, this is a stitched re-telling of how Folman tries to remember the horrific events that he underwent as part of the Israeli Army. Beginning with a visually beautiful stunning scene (a recurring nightmare) in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there’s a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can’t remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images …