Beaufort

Good film, but read the book . . .
This Israeli film captures some of the deep ambiguities of the novel it is based on but must struggle with the challenge of externalizing a story that is mostly internal, told in the novel by its central character in a rich flood of thought occupying his brain as he deals with the impossibilities of the military situation he and his men have been thrust into. Also problematic, the camera robs the characters of their youth, as the actors portraying them are not really young enough to convincingly play 18-to-20 year olds. Meanwhile, the individual personalities of the young men, the humor, adolescent angst, quirkiness, and youthful playfulness, disappear behind the layers of protective gear they must wear 24/7. The one advantage of this film version of the story is that you can see the layout of the installation - a warren of narrow reinforced passageways - as well as the panoramic views from its mountaintop location.

If you have read the novel and want to relive the...

Incoming
A very interesting film, if not a particularly stirring one. It focuses on the last days of the Israeli occupation of Lebanon, similar to Vietnam for the US, more or less endless with no ability to actually win in any meaningful way at this stage of the game. The soldiers are dug into the heights around the Crusader fort Beaufort. Everyone knows they're leaving, but politics precludes them from evacuating immediately. So, they're just up there as sitting ducks, albeit well armored, fortified ducks, taking incoming mortar rounds, with no ability to fire back or do much of anything beyond keeping their heads down. Fear mixed with boredom, and a big dose of frustratation is pretty much the story, as they never actually see the enemy or fire a single round back, but hang on to do their duty until they can leave. You'll enjoy the film if you're interested in the subject matter or at least familiar with the war, but for many this will prove dull.

Tough and disturbing movie
In 1982 on the first day of their controversial invasion of Lebanon, Israeli commandos stormed and captured the Crusader castle of Beaufort which had become a Palestinian fortress. Eighteen years later, as this movie begins, a group of young Israeli soldiers is preparing to leave, bringing the whole unhappy Lebanon adventure to an end.
The filmmakers shot this in another Crusader castle, Kalat Nimrod, on the Golan Heights. Within its walls, they contructed a bewildering rabbit warren of underground passages, reinforced concrete barriers and outposts from which the soldiers keep watch on the enemy.
There is a palpable atmosphere of clastrophobic despair in this movie. We never glimpse the enemy and the Israelis fire not a single shot during its two-hours. They cower under a constant barrage of Hizbollah mortar fire, asking themselves what the hell they are doing there. They watch as a collague is blown to smithereens trying to dismantle a mine to open a road that goes nowhere...

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