Customer Reviews

Yossi & Jagger

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I wasn't sure what to expect from this Israeli film about the love between two male soldiers, and I was pleasantly surprised by the humor and surprisingly moved by the clandestine love between uptight Yossi and the more free-spirited Jagger (called that because he looks and acts like a rock star).

The movie is fairly short--maybe a little over an hour--but it packs a lot in a that short time.

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.

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

"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.

I guess I can't comment on how authentic the movie is to life in the Israeli Army. The emotions and desire are real and are fully experienced and conveyed in this movie.

Don't look for hot sex or coming out themes. These are just men doing their (very dangerous) job under extreme conditions that found each other (somehow) and hold a bond that they cannot speak of with anyone.

There is a love triangle, but the real star of the story is the commander who must lead his troup into harm's way, including the love of his life, without showing his feelings. Yet, we know them.

This is good story-telling. It's worth seeing.

Although one notices the handheld camera in some scenes since this was a low budget film, the marvellous love story pervades.

Actor Yehuda Levi gave a hearwarming performance as Jagger. This popular actor has shown himself to be very talented and versatile in this role.

Even though the Israeli Army is very tolerant in its position regarding gays and lesbians in the enlisted ranks, this movie shows how "don't ask, don't tell" pervades among officers.

Since Israeli soldiers are typically conscripted at age 18-19, they are inducted into a very dangerous duty, literally putting their life at stake in their very youth. The film portrays how they make the most of their spare time before a very dangerous manouver.

No matter what one's preference is, this tragic love story will warm and sadden almost everyones' hearts.

Right. I watch a hell of a lot of films and yet was never able to pick a favourite films, just a favourite 3 or 5 until this came along. This film was amazing and literally took my breath away. I couldn't stop, never mind talking, but thinking about it. This director knows his stuff, and more importantly so does the rest of the crew. The direction is fab, the actors even the bit part and supporting actors are the top of their game , the cinematographer, music, everything. It's amazing, breathtaking, beautiful, very funny in parts. Forget that its subtitled, forget its about two gay soldiers, just watch and be touched. Please please buy this so this guy can make more beautiful movies!

The ending of this made me so teary-eyed, and I'm known for being unemotional... but it was also just one of the dearest things I ever saw. The affection and intimacy shown between Yossi and Jagger (and especially at the beginning) just made me smile... why is violence more acceptable than tenderness?

On some level, I do feel sorry for Yaeli, mainly because loves Jagger and she's unwitting of the fact that Jagger is gay... but I don't like her; I know that she's unwitting of Jagger's secret, but I still see her as this Jezebel, trying to take Jagger away from Yossi.

It felt like I'd been kicked in the gut when Yossi kept their romance secret the whole time... as though it was forbidden to be known... but looking at the photographs of Jagger at the end... and that beautiful song, "Your Soul"... how can one not cry? And why are we so blind to the gritty reality of war after it has been proven time and again of how brutal it is? Nobody should have to suffer like that... nobody should have to lose somebody that they love...

It's also heartbreaking beacuse this is almost the same thing that's happening to all of those poor soldiers out there in the world... their poor families... nobody should have to waste their lives in the trenches.

Despite the sad ending, I do feel some joy, in that Yossi will carry those memories of Jagger... and perhaps be reunited with him... someday...

I would buy this film just to see their cuddling in the snow...!

It's a real tearjerking movie... very grim... but it's just so sweet...!

"Yossi & Jagger" is proof that not all gay movies need be vapid or about sex. Set in the background of the Israeli armed forces during the war in Lebanon, the movie follows a company of soldiers, both male and female, and their interactions as typical young people while stationed in an outpost. The movie is made in a snapshot-like manner rather than in developing a full plot, which allows the contrast between the intimacy and exuberance of the young soldiers on the one hand and the constant tension of war on the other hand to be shown to full effect. The downside of this is that the movie is rather confusing at the beginning (as none of the characters are clearly introduced) and that it is very short, just over one hour. Nevertheless, this picture is moving and more complex than it seems, and the relationship between the two central male characters is subtle and powerful. Very worth watching.

YOSSI & JAGGER
[Yossi VeJager]

(Israel - 2002)

Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Theatrical soundtrack: Stereo

Two soldiers in the Israeli army (Ohad Knoller and Yehuda Levi) conduct an illicit romance whilst patrolling the Israeli-Lebanese border, though they are ultimately divided by their need for secrecy and the dangerous nature of their work.

Originally produced for Israeli television, Eytan Fox's engaging drama was screened theatrically in Tel Aviv to great success before opening nationally to even greater commercial and critical acclaim, and has been hailed in some quarters as one of the best gay movies ever made. Running a mere 65 minutes, the film divides its time equally between a platoon of soldiers operating on the Israeli-Lebanese border, and the two men at the center of a clandestine relationship.

Yossi (Knoller) is a brooding commander who feels constrained by his role as a macho authority figure to conceal his sexuality from the conscripts under his command, while Jagger (Levi, a popular Israeli heartthrob whose career was kickstarted by an appearance in the TV soap opera "Cheers for Love" in 2001) is one of his subordinates, a carefree guy who wants them to declare their love openly by retiring from the Army and setting up house together. There's a now-famous scene, early in the movie, when Yossi and Jagger make love in the snow (don't get excited - all you see are some lingering kisses and the aftermath, in which the two characters are entirely at ease with one another, free from the restraints imposed by Army discipline), but their romance takes up a surprisingly small part of the movie, which appears to have been curtailed for reasons of length (there's a number of images doing the rounds - one of which appears on the back of this DVD - from scenes which were apparently shot but didn't make it to the final print).

Based on a true story, the film is warm-hearted but inconsequential, with some annoyingly jerky hand-held camera movements, and the climactic scenes are a little too restrained to be entirely successful (though Knoller, in particular, gives a truly remarkbale performance in the aftermath of a major plot development). There's still much to admire, and any reservations are dispelled by the central romance, depicted with disarming frankness and performed with relish by Knoller and Levi. Highly recommended.