TSAHAL (Tsava Haganah Lelsraël): Israel Defense Forces

For the first time, the Israeli Army opens its doors and allows some officers and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces to reveal some of its secrets.

TSAHAL raises the question of peace between Israel and its former enemies and explores the Israeli people’s relationship with their land and national identity. Claude Lanzmann portrays a unique army driven by the fear of destruction, focusing on the survival of its nation. The film delves into the Israeli Defense Force, revealing its operations and military strategies through 45 years of conflict (1949-1994). In Claude Lanzmann’s own words, “this work is not based on current events, but on the long history of Israel. It provides an indepth understanding of what, on the Israeli side, prepared and made possible today’s events. It tells the story of Israel’s long march towards recognition.”

César nomination for Best Documentary