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MARCO WERMAN: One more Israel-related note. It's about the Oscar-nominated movie “Waltz with Bashir.” It depicts Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. The director was a conscript in the Israeli army during that conflict. The Israelis were fighting Palestinian guerillas who were using Lebanon as a base for attacks on Israel. The movie's title is a reference to the Lebanese Christian leader at the time, Bashir Gemayel – an Israeli ally – and it ends with the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians by Bashir's militia. In Israel, “Waltz with Bashir” is considered an anti-war movie. But in Lebanon, the film is banned. Pirated DVDs of the movie are available, though. And one Beirut resident, German-born Monika Borgmann, managed to acquire a copy from a German distributor. She recently organized a private screening in the city.

MONIKA BORGMANN: It's important to show Israeli films because this demonization is not useful at all. In the end, everybody has at one point to live together in this region. And I believe that at least understanding the so-called “other” could be a step against this demonization.

WERMAN: Beirut resident Monika Borgmann, on why she thinks people in Lebanon should see the Israeli movie, “Waltz with Bashir.”

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