The Israeli animated film Waltz With Bashir is one of nine semifinalists for the “Best Foreign Language Film Award” at the upcoming Oscars.  The field of nine will be whittled down to five finalists, but Waltz With Bashir, which recently won “Best Foreign Language Film” at the Golden Globes (see “Heath Ledger Wins Golden Globe”) and the more prestigious “Best Picture of 2008” award from the National Society of Film Critics (see “Bashir Wins Best Picture”), would appear to be a shoe-in for at least a spot as one of the five finalists.

Metropolitan Books, a division of Macmillan, is publishing a graphic novel version of Waltz With Bashir ($27.50) on February 17th.  The 128-page volume is written by Ari Folman, the writer/director of the film, and illustrated by David Polonsky, the chief illustrator for the movie.  Waltz With Bashir, as Folman admitted in a recent interview, “was influenced more by graphic novels than by other films,” and readers who enjoy journalistic graphic novels like Joe Sacco’s Palestine that deal with contemporary events with passion, subjectivity, and considerable insight should also enjoy the powerful Waltz With Bashir in both its animated and graphic novel forms.