Yossi & Jagger
by Eytan Fox
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Assi Cohen (II), Aya Steinovitz, Hani Furstenberg, Ohad Knoller, Yehuda LeviDirector: Eytan Fox
Brand: REL
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Hebrew (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 65 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-03-30
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Strand Releasing
Movie Reviews of Yossi & Jagger
Movie Review: A beautiful surprise
Summary: 5 Stars
This is without a doubt, the sweetest yet most poignant love story I have ever seen on film, which is astounding given its totally atypical setting. Yossi and Jagger are Israeli military conscripts, part of a platoon guarding an icy, isolated outpost. Unknown to everyone around them, they are also lovers. Jagger (played by Yehuda Levi) is the free-spirited one, more comfortable with his sexuality, who wants the world to know about his love. He's about to finish his service with the army and has dreams of eventually living openly with the love of his life.
Yossi on the other hand (played by Ohad Knoller) - who just happens to also be Jagger's commanding officer - is more restrained and intent on keeping his sexual orientation and his relationship private. All the while, Ya'eli, a beautiful female soldier (played by Aya Steinovitz) pines for Jagger but he's patently oblivious to her love for him. Thus the scene is set for an engrossing story. Some interesting issues about homosexuality are raised, some stereotypes are challenged and myths destroyed. I was blown away. The movie reminded me of the 2005 movie Jarhead (Widescreen Edition), in that the largest proportion of it is spent watching soldiers waiting for something to happen. It finally does though, and there are tragic consequences.
What I love most of all about this movie is the way it neatly (and wisely) sidesteps the political realities of the region by refraining from introducing us to the enemy the Israeli army are fighting. They are never even mentioned by name. We can guess whom they might be fighting but we'll never know for sure. We are thus able to focus on the real story here without any distractions. At just over an hour long, the movie is notably short but director Eytan Fox ensures that it manages to tell its story with no compromise. "Unusually subtle and convincing," said the New York Times, "A searing, tense and beautifully told film," said the Philadelphia Inquirer. I say believe them both. It's apparently based on a true story and has brilliantly drawn supporting characters, most notable of all (from a personal standpoint) being Ophir, played by Assi Cohen. I will be watching one this again and again.
DVD extras include a song from the movie (Jagger loved it), a stills gallery featuring some of the movie's stars and trailers of other TLA releases. The movie is in Hebrew with optional English subtitles.
PS. As a companion piece to this movie, I highly recommend the 2001 documentary Trembling Before G-D, which tells in accurate detail how difficult it can be to be lesbian or gay if you're also Jewish - whether you live in Israel or indeed anywhere else in the world.
Summary of Yossi & Jagger
Synopsis:Item Type: DVD Movie
Item Rating: ""NR
Street Date: 03/30/04
Wide Screen: no
Director Cut: no
Special Edition: no
Language""ENGLISH
Foreign Film: yes
Subtitlesyes
Dubbed: no
Full Frame: yes
Re-Release: no
Packaging: ""Sleeve""