Product Description

Nominated for an Academy Award Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film 2008, BEAUFORT tells the true story of LIRAZ LIBERTI (Oshri Cohen), a barely-of-age Israeli outpost commander, and his troops, who are left to defend the mythological 12th Century Crusader fort of BEAUFORT prior to Israel' withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. Under a relentless aerial bombardment of Hezbollah rockets, Liraz's authority is challenged on both sides: by strained soldiers who increasingly become weary of their mission's purpose and uncooperative superiors. Rather than deliver a political commentary on the Middle East, BEAUFORT offers a rare insight into the human reality behind the tough exterior shell of the Israeli Defence Force. Extras: Behind The Scenes - Making Of Documentary / Deleted Scenes / Two Theatrical Trailers

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15461 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-06-23
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 125 minutes

Synopsis
Lebanon War veteran Joseph Cedar (CAMPFIRE) directs a harrowing, often haunting account of Israel's 2000 withdrawal from Lebanon and the Beaufort ('Good Fort') mountain fortress. Built by Crusaders in the 12th century, the fort was captured by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in 1982 at the start of the Lebanon War. Eighteen years later, increasing criticism at home and abroad has led to Israel's decision to withdraw completely from Lebanon. Charged with managing the fort's defence and its evacuation is 22-year-old commander Liraz Liberti (Oshri Cohen). Eager to lead but emotionally untested, Liraz must maintain his bare-bones troop's discipline between bouts of claustrophobic tedium and increasing harassment by Hezbollah mortar attacks. That tenuous balance threatens to unravel with the arrival of bomb-disposal specialist Ziv (Ohad Knoller), as well as an unexpectedly sophisticated Hezbollah strike that reveals the limits of Liraz's abilities.
Director Cedar and co-screenwriter Ron Leshem (on whose novel the film is based) eschew political statements and side-taking to instead examine the complexities of individuals bound by duty to a seemingly lost cause. Affectingly acted and directed, BEAUFORT--winner of the Silver Bear at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival--acknowledges the futility of war without ever surrendering its humanity or sense of hope. The film also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

Customer Reviews

The good Soldier
Based on Leshem's acclaimed novel of the same name, this film is about an IDF unit stationed at Beaufort Castle, an Israeli outpost in Southern Lebanon during the South Lebanon conflict, and their commander, Liraz Librati, the last commander before the Israeli withdrawal in 2000.

This is a one of a kind war film which brings the human angles of individual soldiers battling an invisible (except for the shelling) ennemi to the fore. Even though some of the scenes axpand on clichés it is nevertheless an astute drama highlighting stark contrasts, drawing you into the world of the loves, lifes and deaths of young men.

Also recommended: Yossi & Jagger [2002], Brothers and Others in Arms: The Making of Love and War in Israeli Combat Units, Walking on Water [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Realistic portrayal of the 'post-heroic' IDF in Lebanon...
I was once a (non-Jewish)zionist-no longer. But I can still appreciate a good Israeli film when I see one, and this is one. No stupid Hollywood style heroics-the director, Joseph Cedar, did some of his IDF service in Lebanon, in Beaufort Castle. It is probably as honest and plain speaking a portrayal of the 'post-heroic' IDF in Lebanon as is possible. Ordinary guys in a pretty pointless situation, fired at by Hizbollah, taking casualties, hamstrung by politics, wanting above all to go home. I enjoyed the Hebrew (with good subtitling).

Whether or not Mr Cedar intended it, you can see from this portrayal, why the IDF lost in Lebanon in 2006. The film gives Hizbollah the psychological edge. It's wonderful that an Israeli can still make an honest film like this. Kol hakavod lecha Joseph Cedar.

A good war film
This movie is similar to the post-vietnam american war movie, with their sad non-eroic protagonists.
The last moments of the Israel drama of the post 1982 Lebanon war are well depicted (a war made of blood and sweat, without flags in the wind or trumpets). The Tsahal (Israel Army) is not yet the war machine of the "glorious" Six Days War (1967) or the Kippur war (1973 - between movies, watch the beatiful "Kippur") but is only an occupation army in a enemy land.
Perhaps more dramatic than Eythan Fox's "Yossi & Jagger", is a sad, lyric, war drama.