Sony Pictures Classics has picked up Samuel Maoz‘s Lebanon, a Hurt Locker-ish view of war from inside an Israeli tank during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. The film will play at the forthcoming NY Film Festival and screen for press two days hence — can’t wait.
The idea would be to position Lebanon as a contender for the 2009 Best Foreign Language Feature Oscar, assuming that Israel submits it as an official entry. (And this isn’t a done deal.) SPC has recently shown a special allegiance for Israeli-made dramas, picking up Ari Folman‘s Waltz With Bashir (also about Israel’s Lebanon invasion) and Eran Kolirin‘s The Band’s Visit.
