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If we
are accustomed enough to the classic Hollywood war movies, we normally
expect a fearless and seemingly invincible hero soldiers on the winning
side fighting against the evil enemy force. There is a lot of noise, a
lot of smoke and mirrors, perfect organization, and we are rocked in our
seats with the sheer force of the adrenalin rush. The good guys win the
battle and the war, and all is well. Amos Gitai’s Kippur, however,
tells a different tale of war. Based on the director’s personal
experience of the Yom Kippur War launched on Israel by Egypt and Syria
in 1973, Kippur dares to explore the emotional and practical
realities of combat seen through the eyes of reservist soldiers.
After the surprise attack on Israel is
announced on the quiet Yom Kippur day, Weinraub (Liron Levo) and Ruso (Tomer
Ruso) drive in Weinraub’s beat up old Fiat to the Golan Heights in
search of their unit. The rate at which they are going and numerous
obstacles on the road make us wonder if the war might end before they
get there. Sure enough, their unit is already gone when they reach their
destination. They are then found sleeping in their car by Dr. Klauzner,
whose car broke down on his way to his air-force base. They join
Klauzner’s unit and become a part of the helicopter rescue team
picking up wounded soldiers and shot down pilots from the battlefields.
In an obvious anti-war sentiment, Gitai’s
camera shies from nothing. We see severed limbs, misshaped bodies, and
men struggling with feeble breaths in knee-high mud swamps. We see fear
and chaos and moments of bonding that come as silent screams over
witnessed horror. The realistic feel is enhanced by long, static camera
shots, which make the scenes inescapable and multi-dimensional in terms
of their emotional impact. This, after all, is a war movie about a unit
of non-professional soldiers. They are disorganized, afraid, and for the
most part unfit for the pure physical challenges of their situation.
They are just average men, with regular jobs, girlfriends, and family
histories. Their vulnerability paints a haunting picture of the
destructiveness of war. The fact that we never actually see the invading
army nor hear any political or patriotic rhetoric makes the exploits of
the characters heartbreaking and deeply personal. They could be anybody,
anywhere, at any war, and regardless of the outcome of the war, they
will be forever scarred.
Although shot in a slow rhythm with a few
unbearably and unnecessarily long sequences, Kippur offers a
boldly authentic and thought provoking experience.
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DIRECTED
BY:
Amos Gitai
WRITTEN BY:
Amos Gitai
Marie-Jose Sanselme
CAST:
Liron Levo as Weinraub
Tomer Ruso as Ruso
Uri Ran Klauzner as Dr. Klauzner
Yoram Hattab as Yoram
Guy Amir as Gadassi
Juliano Merr as the Captain
MPAA RATING:
Not Rated.
RUNNING TIME:
123 Minutes
Aspect Ratio:
1.85:1
LINKS:
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