Yossi

Both of these movies were powerful films and the sequel does not disappoint. Ohad Knoller did a wonderful job. One of the existing reviews seemed to judge everything based on the looks of the individual actors in the film which seemed rather shallow. I did agree with them on some points though. Yes, Yossi, in spite of the weight he has added, still carried the movie, and he is still a strikingly handsome fellow. At first I could not recognize him as the same fellow that was in Jossi and Jagger. Secondly, the toilet scene where the other doctor brings a girl in to have a threesome with Yossi, seemed a little out of place, but perhaps it added some additional perspective to the lonely and dismal place that Jossi was in his life at that stage. Overall, I loved the movie and would say that it is easily Israel's answer to Brokeback Mountain. I thought about Jossi for days after viewing the film in much the same way I did when I saw Brokeback Mountain.

I would now like to see anything with Ohad Knoller in it...he is my new favorite actor. Go Ohad!!!

I normally don't watch sequels when I haven't seen the original but in the case of "Yossi" I thought I would make an exception. It's a sequel to "Yossi and Jagger" and it takes up the story of Yossi, an Israeli doctor, after the death of his lover, Jagger, who was killed when they were soldiers in the Lebanon. Other than providing some kind of happy ending for Yossi this time round this seems to me a somewhat pointless film despite being very well written, directed and acted. As gay 'romances' go it's certainly up-front and honest and hardly sentimental but the 10 year gap between the two films gives this the feeling of an afterthought. Nevertheless, it's still a welcome addition to LGBT cinema if only for treating both its characters and its audience with some degree of intelligence.

Wow. What a beautiful film.

So simple yet so... I don't know how to describe it. I watched it with this peaceful relaxed feeling throughout the whole film. The story flows effortlessly. I don't know how the director did it. Everything just seems to work, just like in Yossi & Jagger. It could have been one of those typical films, but yet it works so well that it's special. It's almost like there's magic in the air. The acting is wonderful. Ohad Knoller who play Yossi is absolutely perfect. What a charmer. The film is all about Yossi and Ohad did a fantastic job. He's really the heart and soul of the film.

It's not everyday that I would give a "normal" film like this a 10, but I'd give this a 10.

I can't really remember watching a sequel of a gay film before. Either there haven't been one before or I have missed them. When I say sequel, I mean real sequel that takes the story forward and not just series like 'Eating Out'. Yossi takes the story forward from 'Yossi & Jagger', where the protagonist Jagger dies in a tragic military ambush and how Yossi is going on with his life.

Its been about 10 years since the incident had happened. Yossi is now a doctor but a very very lonely man. His anxieties are pushing their way into lonely nights with internet porn and growing detachment from his hospital's job. Yossi is still in closet, doesn't like to talk to anyone about being gay. A chance encounter with Jagger's mother at the hospital check up makes him to go to their house to tell Jagger's parents who he really is and what his relationship with Jagger was. Jagger's father is OK but the mother doesn't take it all too well. Being pushed to take a vacation, Yossi takes on a solitary road trip. He ends up picking 4 soldiers as hitchhikers who miss their bus. The groups of 4 is very very fun loving and they taunt him with the name Mozart. One of the guys in the group, Tom is gay and he and the others are very comfortable with it. Tom wants to spend time with Yossi who still prefers to be on his own just reading books but Tom won't leave him alone. Its Tom, who make Yossi come out of his cocoon and he helps Yossi evaluate his problems over a period of time and Tom helps him bring back being comfortable with who he is.

From the production values perspective, this film is Eytan Fox's best work to date. Even in terms of story and direction, it is a very accomplished work. As a viewer we really get to experience what Yossi is going through. It has been 10 years since Jagger's death but every single day, Yossi is still suffering thinking whether Jagger heard or not when he said 'I Love You'. Yossi is in denial of his nonexistent social life. Following his daily routine, the audience also sees something very humane and sad. No one would wish something like that for anyone. The inner turmoil that he goes through on whether or not to meet Jagger's parents is also done very very well. He is actually heart-wrenching. The movie then just goes in to a completely different dimension when Yossi goes a road trip. Yossi is always apologetic and ashamed of himself and his body. The young soldier Tom makes him realize that time have changed, Israel has changed and Yossi can be OK with who he is. In fact in a very touching scene when Yossi and Tom are about to get into bed, it is Tom who pushes Yossi to be comfortable with himself and his body and be proud of it. The acting from everyone is impeccable. Casuality driven Yossi, still in closet, carrying on from his military days has been acted really really well. The new guy Tom, does good job and looks cute but he does not have that mischief and innocent pure face and eyes of Jagger. He was something else.

A definite watch. I am so glad I decided to watch the prequel first and follow it up with this movie. I was able to connect with it even more and was still very very satisfied.

This film is such a nice sequel to the 2002 "Yossi & Jagger"! The first one had a simple and nice plot, but I had issues with the undergrad-quality cinematography, and despite apparently winning awards, I wasn't very convinced by Ohad Knoller's acting, who played Yossi in the film. This sequel, however, is exactly what I was expecting: great cinematography, a complex but lovable plot, and great acting by Ohad, who really played Yossi well in this film.

Although I believe that it's totally fine that you don't watch "Yossi & Jagger" before watching this film, watching it will definitely help you understand a lot more in the film that hasn't been explicitly stated, like why Yossi would become a doctor and why he decides to go on a trip to Sinai (Sinai?!). This film isn't fully focusing on a romantic relationship like the first one did; instead it explores how Yossi lives after the death of Lior, and everyone of us can definitely identify with some of the moments shown in the film: getting off in a dark room at night, having Chinese takeaway at home alone, and watching mindless animal documentaries. Oh, and having hookups with shallow, petty gay men. Ohad Knoller played Yossi really well in the film; display of emotions is almost effortless, and although you can argue that it doesn't take much effort to play a sad, almost-middle-aged gay man, his little smiles and at times teary eyes are proof that Ohad knows how to play a character well. I have so much respect for Ohad after watching this movie. About his weight: yes, the Yossi we see is not the same one we saw in "Yossi & Jagger", but that has helped the movie delivered some of the most precious messages we have ever heard in film history about body positivity in the gay community.

This film has a romantic plot, after all. The relationship is lovely, develops at the right pace, and most importantly, is believable. That's why I say this film will make you feel so good. It's so good that I hope it is true, and unfortunately that means we probably won't see a third movie in the making - but never mind because it is such a good wrap-up to a great story already.

The review should not end without pointing out how great the soundtrack is - a great selection of songs to accompany the story, and nice lyrics too. Yes, the fact that the film deals mainly with Yossi's inner demons may scare away a lot of potential viewers, but this film is too good to pass up. If you're looking for a slow burning love story, this movie is just for you.