“Lebanon: The Soldier’s Journey” is effectively the “Phone Booth” of war films as this movie is almost exclusively set inside an Israeli tank. It feels very realistic and I imagine that this is about as close as you are going to get to experiencing being in a tank without physically getting in one.

During Israel’s first war in Lebanon in 1982, a single tank and a small band of soldiers are tasked with clearing out hostile territory after an aerial attack. The conditions of the tank get worse as it becomes dirty and starts to smell. They also face mechanical problems and radio issues, which fuel their anxiety.

The characters in this movie are genuinely gripping. The dialog is great and the raw emotions on display are terrific. We get invested in the characters that are stuck inside a dark and sweaty machine. The tank may initially seem like the safest place to be but it creates a level of isolation with the tank crew members having to rely on radio communications and occasional visits from their superior. They are also having to share their precious space with a captured Syrian insurgent, which again adds to the tension. Without captivating characters, a movie like this could become rather boring.

This is not a movie for those without a strong stomach as the brief moments of violence are incredibly graphic and are very realistic. This is an intense picture throughout and it is impressive that the filmmakers have achieved this without the budget of movies such as “Saving Private Ryan” and “Black Hawk Down”. The cinematography in this movie rivals a Hitchcock movie at times. It might not be for everyone but I think “Lebanon: The Soldier’s Journey” is a darn fine war movie and much better than “Waltz With Bashir”.