Reviewed by Michael Edwards
Stars Oshri Cohen, Itay Tiran, Eli Eltonyo, Itay Turgeman, Ohad Knoller, Alon Abutbul, Daniel Brook, Gal Friedman, Nevo Kimchi, Arthur Perzev, Ygal Resnik, Ami Weinberg
Written by Joseph Cedar, Ron Leshem
Certification UK 15
Runtime 120 minutes
Directed by Joseph Cedar
As an Oscar nominee for best foreign language film, Beaufort proffers all the expected tensions and pretensions you'd expect. A tense piece about Israeli forces in Lebanon, the film paints a portrait of the humanity of the Israeli soldiers guarding the infamous 'Beaufort' (how ironic that a fort so bloody should be deemed beautiful) which was held for 18 years by Israeli forces before the retreat in 2000 under heavy rocket fire from Hezbollah.
In between the opening of the film and the explosive destruction of the fortress by retreating Israelis we are treated to two hours of occasionally poignant, frequently picturesque but often mundane and predictable set-pieces about the fear, unpredictability and psychological impact of warfare. Anyone who has watched more than one film about the first world war will instantly tap into the tools and themes trotted out by director Joseph Cedar to convey the futility of the bloodshed at this fortress whose historical prowess is matched only by its pitiless drain on human life. The winding tunnels surrounding the ancient building are reminiscent of trenches, the long scenes of quiet before the rocket attacks, the youth of the protagonists and the unshakeable sense of hopelessness all conjured up scenes from Journey's End in my mind.
Having said all that, although the plot is predictable (a character has only to reveal a snippet of his future plans or personal life before his 'untimely' demise) and the combat scenes unconvincing, there is an earnestness in this film and a quiet integrity in the performances that make this microcosmic tale of conflict watchable. Perhaps it should also be said that the comparability to films of wars gone by does not simply make this outing seem tired, it is also a positive sign that Beaufort, for the most part, bodyswerves awkward or aggressive commentary on a sensitive political situation. Its scope is simply the experience of warfare, of young men under immense pressure in difficult circumstances. Thus let it be said that Beaufort is a drama that carries some weight, I just can't help wishing that it didn't try to carry it so far ... or so slowly ... and that the route was a bit more interesting.