(Levanone)
Compared to Ari Folman's sophisticated animation-memory Waltz With Bashir, another autobiographical film that dealt with the same war, Lebanon takes a very different, experiential approach to describe the sheer horror of warfare, rather than its political background. At times it seems the film, which goes heavy on close-ups and dialogue to make the most of a low budget, could have been set during World War II.
The action is set entirely within the claustrophobic confines of an armored tank; the only views of the outside world are through the cross-hairs of the gun barrel. What comes through is a visceral horror described without letup or dramatic relief. Unforgettable.
Deborah Young, Hollywood Reporter
Winner - Golden Lion Best Film, Venice Film Festival 2009