After

Stumbling accidentally upon this charming little film in a student film festival in the early 90's, I had the rare pleasure of watching it without any prior idea what it's about. Being closeted at the time, it made an enormous impact on me back then.

The plot focuses on the tense interactions between a young soldier and his supervising commander in an Israeli army combat unit. The unit receives an afternoon leave ("after") in Jerusalem, before going up to Lebanon on a combat mission, and the film tells the story of this leave's events.

Watching it again lately, I still found it highly moving: compact, precise and very well directed and played. I still think it is one of the best gay films I have ever watched. I'm sure it is not easy to come by, but it's highly worth the effort. A must see!

It is probably of the most moving films I have ever had the pleasure of watching. I scoured the internet for this film, having seen the clip of it on YouTube, without success. In desperation I contacted the Israel Film Archive. They only had a 16mm copy which they would have to digitise if I could get permission from the Director, Eytan Fox. I had an email address for him, and he is one of the most helpful person I have ever contacted. He gave me a site where I could watch the film. I cannot thank him enough. It is a lovely film and I enjoyed it without reservations.

(Titled "After" {1990} on the IMDb.com web site and "Time Off" as part of the short film DVD collection, "Boys Life 5")

This is one of the earliest works of Eytan Fox (later came "Yossi & Jagger" and "Walk on Water"), and for gays, or those so interested, it's one of the most satisfying. It's a story of an Israeli Army unit in training and on short leave, of it's lieutenant leader and, most particularly, one of its young soldiers. Yonatan (Jonathan?), impressively played by actor, Hanoch Reim, is in the final stages of realizing who he is, sexually, and it is absolutely amazing to watch his reactions and growing response to the handsome young unit commander, a part also well-played by Gil Frank.

While many sections of this short, 45 minute film are slow going (unit training interactions and the fun "behavings" of young soldiers on short leave in Jerusalem), it is when the film concentrates on Yonatan, especially during time spent in a city park, that we get most drawn in. A scene in the park men's restroom is almost palpable and one of the most arousing I've witnessed. Hanoch Reim gives us "a study in pure longing." The response he creates leaves no doubt in our minds as to just where he wants to be, what he wants to be doing, and with whom. (How CAN one do that, with just eyes, facial expression and the very slightest of head movement?). It is rather surprising that, with one exception, young Reim doesn't seem to have gone on to later film performances in the succeeding 15 years. Frank, on the other hand, has kept somewhat busy, particularly in Israeli TV. But in this film, precursor to "Yossi & Jagger," at least Reim has left us with a most indelible performance.

PS: The last two lines of spoken dialog and a half-smile of realization tell us everything we need to know. (Oh, and my alternate Comment title, above, will become quite clear to you on viewing....Enjoy)

****

I recently came across this short film on the Yossi & Jagger DVD (Israeli Region 2 release).

If you've seen Fox's film "Yossi & Jagger" this film gives a possible insight into where the idea for Yossi & Jagger may have originally come from. The running time is short (30 mins.), and this, as with Yossi & Jagger, does leave the viewer wishing that Fox had explored the relationships in the film in more detail. You are left wanting to know more and that makes this short film all the more enticing.

For those interested in Fox's works it's well worth making the effort to try and find this short on the Israeli Region 2 DVD.

This film was very nicely done. Interesting from beginning to end. Well written and acted. Universal themes and interesting characters beautifully presented.

A group of Israeli soldiers are about to be deployed to Lebanon. Before leaving they get a short leave in Jerusalem. We follow our protagonist as he engages with them and finds something in common with a fellow soldier.

If you like well-made short films exploring self-discovery, companionship, secrecy, desire, and love in a less-than-welcoming environment, you'll enjoy this film.