Lebanon
Israel, Germany, France , 2009.

Directed by: Samuel Maoz
Script: Samuel Maoz
Producer: Anat Bikel, Leon Edery, Moshe Edery, David Silber, Uri Sabag, Benjamina Mirnik, Ilann Girard
Production company: Ariel Films, Arsam International, Arte France, Israeli Film Fund, Metro Communications, Paralite
Cinematography: Giora Bejach
Editing: Arik Leibovitch
Music: Nicolas Becker, Benoît Delbecq
Cast: Reymond Amsalem, Oshri Cohen, Yoav Donat, Michael Moshonov, Zohar Shtrauss, Dudu Tassa, Itay Tiran

Format: 35mm
Running time: 94'

Synopsis
It's June of 1982, and four young Israeli soldiers are assigned to operate a single tank. Their first mission is to enter a civilian Lebanese village to clear it of possible PLO terrorists. Something goes horribly wrong, however, and the ensuing panic leads to miscommunication, death, destruction and hostages. All hell breaks loose around these young men as they face the perennial question: kill or be killed? 'Lebanon' is a sensual film in the dictionary sense of the word. The majority of the action takes place inside the tank, and a hot, sweaty, rusted-out place it is, rank with the odours of men and fear. Maoz is supported by a cast of Israel's finest up-and-coming young actors. He shows us war through the eyes of Yigal, Gamil and Asi. None of these men are heroes, none of them eager to kill or die themselves. Maoz was a twenty-year-old novice soldier in the initial days of the first Lebanon war. Traumatized by his time in combat, he for years manifested his distress as outbursts of anger and long stretches of depression. It wasn't until 2007 that he felt there might be something to gain, both for himself and others, from creating a fictionalized version of his experiences.

Awards
Venice Film Festival 2009 Golden Lion, Nazareno Taddei Award, SIGNIS Award - Honorable Mention

Directors Biography
Samuel Maoz was born in Tel Aviv, where he studied cinematography at the Beit Tzvi school. He has worked as a production designer in film and television, and has also directed documentaries, television series and theatre productions. 'Lebanon' (2009) is his first feature film.

Location and screening schedule:
SC Cinema, Thursday, October 22nd at 11.00
SC Cinema, Thursday, October 22nd at 22.30
EUROPA Cinema, Friday, October 23rd at 17.00