Search - Yossi & Jagger on DVD

Brothers in Arms

Apollinorus | London, UK | 08/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After a brief stint in Hollywood, director Eytan Fox returned to Israel and made this beautiful and passionate film which speaks through its simplicity. Though 65 minutes long, Yossi and Jagger captures the spirited elan and tensions of Israeli youths in the armed forces and presents certainly one of the most resonant film romances I have been fortunate enough to watch.

The film makes good use by perverting its own clichés with its characterisations and a predictable, sentimental story. The surprise is a truly touching portrait of youth on the front lines. In war some lose their limbs, some their minds and others their loves, only to be reborn. Yossi and Jagger doesn't wallow in it: it's fast moving; there's no time for preaching. Not until the film is over will you really start to consider its realities.

Yossi and Jagger makes no plea for any cause. That makes it immensely watchable. Here are two people in love, and other (unrequited) love interests, each with distinct personalities, frame that image, each character pushing its own personal objectives, whims, desires and dreams.

Ohad Knoller(stage credits) and popular Israeli tv star Yehuda Levi give excelling performances.

This movie essentially also delivers the pictorial completeness of David Kaplan's informative book: Brothers and Others in Arms: The Making of Love and War in Israeli Combat Units.

I also recommend Walk on Water by the same director."

Don't ask, don't tell...

private__ | Earth | 02/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Even in a country where there is no "don't ask, don't tell" policy, we see that reality shoves young lovers like Yossi and Jagger into the closet. Who needs written rules and regulations to make scared young gays hide their love for each other? But despite the unwritten law of silence, we see a slice of real society through a great cast of widely-ranging characters who all have different reactions.

Of course I adored the gay love story in and of itself! Yossi and Jagger are so cute and full of youthful liveliness and excitement for each other. Who wouldn't think back to living their own adolescent romance and all the enjoyment that brings?

But I think Yossi and Jagger is much more about everyone else's reactions to an unspoken "secret." The woman in love, the buddies in the barracks, a jealous soldier who hates one of the main characters, the military brass, the unknowing mother: they all live in close quarters and have the truth right before their eyes, and what is interesting about the movie is that some of them choose to see it and some of them don't. In the final scene, we see that gay people not only suffer from discrimination and secrecy, but also from having their whole life stories re-written and wrongly interpreted by the people around them, which is a tragedy in and of itself."

THE LOVE OF TWO SOLDIERS!

yaaah69 | albuquerque, nm United States | 06/10/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was a little hesitant to rent this movie after seeing "Trembling Before G-D", which was a real eye-opener to me. I guess we go around with our heads in the clouds, not thinking what other homosexuals have to go thru for their religion.... But , the two movies had nothing in common except they were made in Isreal. Yossi and Jagger is a bittersweet love affair between two Isreali soldiers, very well played by Yehuda Levi , and Ohad Knoller, you could feel the love they had for each other and the hurt Jagger was going thru because they had to be so careful as they were officers. Its hard to get a real grip on the characters as its only 67 min long and leaves you grasping for more. But Eytan Fox did a splendid job with the time he had. The song that Jagger sings is haunting in the extra video on the disc. I felt that these men brought back to Isreal some hope that you can have same sex love without the terrible angst they had in Trembling Before God . I give this great little flick 41/2 of 5 and will be looking forward to seeing Eytan Foxs' new movie "Walking On Water". By the way you can get the words in english of the song Your Soul on the message boards for Yossi and Jagger on imdb.ciao yaaah69"

A Review of Yossi and Jagger by Cheri

Cheri Crystal | Eastern United States | 05/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Yossi and Jagger" is a touching and realistic film based on a true story about two Israeli Soldiers who love each other. At a mere 67 minutes, this movie packs in substantial messages. In one of the movie's trailers, there is a statement that pretty much sums up the movie, "Love Should Never be a Secret." How sad that being gay and in love has to be an exception. An outpost of the Israeli-Lebanese border is the setting of the film where the two army commanders maintain secrecy about their relationship-similar to America's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Even if the other soldiers suspect, they do not make an issue out of the fact that their leaders are gay but you get the distinct feeling they would rather not know. The viewers get a sense of what it must be like to live in a constant state of war, fear, and fighting, while defending one's country. While many young people are partying, going to school, falling in love, and enjoying their youth, Israeli youth are drafted into the Army and ordered to risk their lives every day. What kinds of hopes and dreams can these people have when they are fighting for survival? It is inspiring to see how they allow themselves simple pleasures in life to remember what they are fighting for and to maintain their sanity. They seek love, companionship, and fun to get them through this difficult time of uncertainty in their lives.Yossi (Ohad Knoller) and Jagger's (Yehuda Levi) poignant love story is all too real. Yossi, first commander, wants to keep their affair a secret and Jagger, second commander, wants to tell the world. Jagger is growing tired of hiding his love and being ashamed of it. He is close to the end of his tour and he asks Yossi to retire from the army when he does. He longs for an open and honest relationship with the love of his life. Yossi feels he can never change and is unable or unwilling to declare his love for Jagger publicly or privately. Even though Jagger knows Yossi loves him, he wants to hear him say it. I recommend this movie for its depth and realism. It is real without being too gory in its depiction of war but its powerful message is all too loud and clear. War is senseless and a severe weakness of the human condition. It reminds us of our failings to get along with our neighbors, which often meets with a tragic end."