Beaufort, directed by Joseph Cedar, is a haunting Israeli war drama that tells the story of the final days of an Israeli army unit stationed at the historic Beaufort fortress in southern Lebanon. Set in the year 2000, just before Israel’s withdrawal after an 18-year military presence, the film is less about combat and more about the emotional and psychological toll of occupation.
At the heart of the story is Lieutenant Liraz Liberti, a young officer tasked with holding the fort while knowing the end is near. As the soldiers bunker deep into a fortified maze of tunnels beneath the stone citadel, they grapple not only with physical threats—constant shelling, booby traps, and fear of sniper attacks—but with growing existential despair. There are no triumphant battles here, only the heavy silence between explosions and the mounting realization that their mission might have lost its meaning.
Oshri Cohen, playing Liraz, delivers a deeply human performance. He portrays a soldier trying to maintain authority and composure while privately buckling under fear, responsibility, and isolation. His internal conflict mirrors that of his men—each one wrestling with the absurdity of dying for a position they’re soon going to abandon.
Director Joseph Cedar crafts an atmosphere filled with dread and claustrophobia. Much of the film takes place underground or inside narrow corridors, emphasizing the soldiers’ entrapment. The absence of visible enemies intensifies the anxiety, making every quiet moment feel like a potential ambush.
Visually, Beaufort is both stark and poetic. The mountainous setting is beautiful yet foreboding, and the fort’s ancient stones serve as a haunting symbol of both past and present conflict. The muted color palette—filled with greys, browns, and washed-out blues—reflects the somber mood.
The film takes a meditative, anti-war approach. There are no grand speeches or victorious marches—just moments of fear, reflection, and fatigue. This makes Beaufort feel more like a psychological study than a traditional war movie.
Beaufort explores themes of duty versus futility, youth and leadership, and the invisible scars of war. It doesn’t demonize or glorify anyone—it simply presents war as it often is: confusing, morally ambiguous, and emotionally draining.
The story is based on real events and captures a pivotal moment in Israeli military history. But its message is universal—it resonates with anyone who’s faced the burden of fighting a war they didn’t choose and possibly can’t win.
Beaufort is a powerful, slow-burning war drama that trades spectacle for truth. It is a portrait of soldiers trapped between a crumbling fortress and a crumbling sense of purpose. Moving, tense, and beautifully restrained, it stands as one of the most emotionally resonant war films of its time.
