Showing posts with label Country: Israel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Country: Israel. Show all posts

16 May 2014

Snails in the Rain (2013)

ccSnails in the Rain (2013)


Director: Yariv Mozer
Writers: Yossi Avni Levy (original story), Yariv Mozer
Genre: Drama
Country: Israel
Language: Hebrew
Duration: 82 min
Year: 2013



Stars: Liron Argaman, Yaron Biton, Shak Brenner, Eyal Cohen, Adi Douiev, Itay Gonen





Tel Aviv 1989. Boaz, lijep i zdodan student koji živi sa djevojkom dobija pismo od anonimnog obožavatelja: " Dragi Boaz, ne pitaj me ko sam i kako te znam. Mislim o tebi jako mnogo . 2014002aOsjećam se nekako posramljeno što sjedim ovdje, za stolom i pišem ovo pismo, ali nemam hrabrosti da bilo šta učinim. Pisaću ti opet."
Boaz u početku misli da je sve to neka greška , ali nakon sledećeg pisma počinje da se pita ko mu šalje ljubavna pisma iz kojih se jasno vidi da je to neko ko ga vidi svaki dan, zna gdje i sa kim živi, gdje studira itd.
Očekujući stipendiju za studiranje hebrejskog jezika svakodnevno provjerava poštu. Pisma koja se ređaju počinju da u njeu bude uspomene na vojničke dane kada je prvi put doživio poljubac od druga i osjetio da ga privlače drugi muškarci. Na ulici primjećuje skrivene poglede, a u svlačionici zgodne i  otvorene momke koji mu se često nabacuju. U njemu raste nemir i ne može da ne razmišljai o sebi ali i o nepoznatom obožavatelju. Njegova djevojka otkriva pisma, ali odluči da prećiti i ne priča sa njim o tome.
2Boaz se nalazi u emocionalnom procjepu, svjestan da ga samo tanka nit djeli od spoznaje da u njemu leži duboko potiskivana homoseksualnost koja lako može izaći na površinu.
Kada dobije pismo u kojem ga tajni obožavalac piše da ako i dalje želi da dobija njegova pisma mora tri puta da ugasi i upali svjetlo u kuhinji tačno u 22.00 Boaz se nalazi pred dilemom. Njegova djevojaka saznaje o kome se radi ali odluči da tajnu zadrži za sebe i sačeka Boazovu odluku, kojim putem će da krene.
Izraelski gay filmovi naprosto obiluju homoerotskim scenama, posebno oni koje je režirao Eytan Fox, te se ne možemo oteti utisku da je režiser ovog filma kao uzor za svoje stvaralaštvo uzeo upravo njega.
Inače ovu priču je napisao Yossi Avni-Levy, koji je diplomata i trenutno je Izraelski ambasador u Beogradu.
66Mene je podsjetio na jednog druga sa kojim sam studirao. Često sam imao utisak da me gleda ne samo kao prijatelja već i sa nekim posebnim simpatijama. NA žalost ni on , ni ja nismo nikada imali hrabrosti da budemo potpuno iskreni i kažemo šta zaista želimo i osjećamo iako smo često vikendomišli na nudističku plažu na obližnjem otoku, spavali zajedno, šetali goli u ljetnim noćima po stanu i uživali na jedan samo nama dozvoljen način, u tišini bez snage da prekoračimo granicu koja bi nas odvela pravo u zagrljaj jedan drugom.
Film toplo preporučujem da pogledate.
fi
Tel Aviv 1989. Boaz, a 25 years old beautiful student, receives anonymous, male written, obsessive love letters that undermines his sexual identity and interfere his peaceful life with his beloved girlfriend.


3He thought it was a mistake. A long white envelope is placed inside his post office box. Only his name appears on it. “Dear Boaz, Don’t ask who I am or how I know you. I think about you a lot. I feel quite embarrassed to sit here at my desk and write you this letter, but I don’t have the courage for much else. I shall write again.” He crumples up the paper. He’s so surprised that he giggles, blushes, checks to make sure no one’s looking. On his way to Tel Aviv University for his linguistics class, he begins to forget about it. When he comes home to his girlfriend, Noa, she’s baking his favorite cake. They’ve been waiting to hear from Jerusalem’s Hebrew University about Boaz’s scholarship.
2The year is 1989, when people still waited by their mailboxes. Boaz, 25, is a beautiful and alluring linguistics student. Nearly every day he comes to the post office to find out about his scholarship. But instead he receives anonymous, obsessive love letters. They expose the inner world of their author, a deeply closeted homosexual. Who is the man who has invaded Boaz’s private life? How does he know so much about him? The persistent letters make Boaz extremely sensitive. Every man is a potential suspect—but it is his own heterosexuality that Boaz really doubts. He’s now haunted by memories from his past, unforgettable moments when he felt attracted to other men: Nir, his fellow combat soldier or the German man who slept above him in a European youth hostel. These men manage to disrupt Boaz’s daily life with Noa.
44In his fourth letter, the secret admirer gives Boaz an ultimatum. “At precisely 22:00, Thursday, I will be hiding at a position from which I can observe your windows. If you want me to continue writing, you will turn the kitchen lights on and off three times… But if you do not, I will never bother you again. In that case, this letter will be my last.” It’s almost 22:00 and Boaz doesn’t know how to reconcile this difficult decision with Noa and his own emotional turmoil. He also does not know that hours before, Noa had already met the mystery man. She’s known everything all along but kept Boaz’s secrets to herself.

23 November 2013

Out in the Dark (2012)

OID CCOut in the Dark (2012)

 

Director: Michael Mayer
Writers: Yael Shafrir, Michael Mayer
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Israel
Language: Hebrew, Arabic
Duration: 96 min
Year: 2012

 

 

Stars: Nicholas Jacob, Michael Aloni, Jamil Khoury,Alon Pdut, Loai Nofi, Khawlah Hag-Debsy, Maysa Daw

 

outdark1Izraelsko-Palestinska ljubavna priča između advokata Roy-a i mladog palestinca Namira podsjeća na već viđene filmove Eytana Foxa ( The BubleWalk on Water (2004)
Gay veza je nešto što je zabranjeno u mnogim društvima, a kada tome dodate i zabranjenu ljubav sa “neprijateljskom stranom” onda je to u većini slučajeva osuđeno na tragičan kraj opjevan u mnogim djelima, od Šekspirove tragedije "Romeo i Julija" do balkanske istinite priče između Admire i Boška koja je završila u Sarajevu uz obalu Miljacke.
Roy je uspješan advokat u Tel Avivu, a Namir palestinski student koji želi da se posveti borbi za ljudska prava.outinthedark-2 Nakon što su se upoznali u jednom od mnogobrojnih underground gay klubova, prepuste se ljubavnim maštarijama u kojima nije bilo mjesta surovoj realnosti da u svjetu u kojem žive za takve kao što su oni nema mjesta. U slučaju da bude otkriveno da gay Nmir bio osuđen na smrt ili izgnanstvo zbog sramoćenja palestinske porodice, a Roy na osudu jer voli "zakletog neprijatelja" Izraela.
Iako ne volim da gledam filmove sa ovakvom tematikom uvjek nekako naletim na njih i kao hipnotisan ih odgledam do kraja. Vjerujem da nisam jedini koji je u dahu odgledao priču Namira i Roya koji su se baš kao nekada na balkanu našli u bezizlaznoj situaciji režiranoj u bolesnim glavama dežurnih čuvara nacionalnih i državnih interesa.

outinthedark-3A gay love story straddling the Israel-Palestine divide. Roy (Michael Aloni) is a well-to-do Israeli lawyer, Nimr (Nicholas Jacob) a young Palestinian on an educational permit in Tel Aviv. They fall in love, then into a whole heap of trouble as Israeli security services start investigating Namir's militant brother. There's romance and tragedy, but little depth and no nuance. Aloni and Jacob make for beautiful lovers, yet first-time director Michael Mayer has a tough time playing a catchy tune with just two notes.

outinthedark-fi

01 June 2013

Walk on Water (2004)

Walk on Water (2004)

Director: Eytan Fox
Writer: Gal Uchovsky (screenplay)
Genre:Drama, Thriller
Country: Israel, Sweden
Language: English,German, Hebrew
Duration:103 min
Year: 2004

Stars: Lior Ashkenazi, Knut Berger, Caroline Peters, Gideon Shemer, Carola Regnier

 

 

 

 

Eyal je član Mossada zadužen za eliminaciju neprijatelja. Po povratku iz posljednje misije, saznaje da mu je supruga počinila samoubojstvo te je povučen s rada na terenu dok ne prođe psihološku procjenu. Za to vrijeme dobiva manji zadatak zbližavanja s unucima ostarjeloga nacističkoga zločinca da bi se saznala njegova trenutna lokacija. S vremenom Eyal razvija prijateljski odnos s Axelom i njegovom sestrom Pijom, te počne dovoditi u pitanje svoje vrijednosti i posao.

 

Većina ljudi živi onako kako su ih naučili u skladu sa svojim mogućnostima,poštujući sistem vrijednosti uspostavljan u porodici i društvu.
Rađanje, djetinjstvo, učenje, vjenčanje, stvaranje potomstva,radi, penzija i kraj.
Sad u sve to ubacimo malo religije, zakone, socijalne okolnosti i životna čorba je završena.
Medjutim predvidljivost naših sudbina nije tako jednostavna, jer u ljudskoj prirodi je da traži način da promjeni nepromjenjivo, sazna nepoznato i iskusi neiskušeno.
Upoznavajući jedni druge, putovanja u druge zemlje, upoznavanje drugih kultura, moralnih i društvenih vrijednosti otvoriće nam vidike i navesti nas da promjenimo sistem vrijednosti za koji smo mislili da je vječan.
Tako je Eyal, kruti agent mosada  upoznao veselog Alexa koji o životu razmišlja na način da se sve može promjeniti i ostvariti snovi u kojima hodamo po vodi.
A kako ćemo to uspjeti? Budite iskreni, bez loših misli i volite ljude oko sebe.

 

"Walk on Water" is an Israeli film released in 2004. It stars Lior Ashkenazi, Knut Berger, and Caroline Peters. It was directed by New York-born Israeli director Eytan Fox. The screenplay was written by Gal Uchovsky. Most of the dialogue takes place in English, although there is much in Hebrew and German. Its name derives in part from Jesus' walking on water.

Eyal is an agent in Mossad, the Israeli security service. He is a hitman who targets enemies of Israel. His wife has recently committed suicide, and the agency decides that he needs to take on a less challenging assignment: to find an aging Nazi war criminal and get him "before God does".

In order to track down the old man, Eyal poses as a tour guide and befriends the Nazi's adult grandchildren, Axel and Pia. Pia lives on a kibbutz, an Israeli commune. Her brother Axel visits her in order to convince Pia to return to Germany for their father's seventieth birthday. It is later revealed that Pia's estrangement with her parents began when she discovered that they were hiding her grandfather. She shares this information with Axel.

Although he has a job to perform, Eyal truly befriends Axel and Pia. Axel and Pia are decent people who demonstrate that most Germans have gotten beyond the hatred that led to the Holocaust. They spend time together and Eyal enjoys himself, even if he would not openly admit so. His friendship with Axel allows him to display some humanity, letting down his tough-guy machismo. Eyal and Axel even take a mud bath by the Dead Sea, showering off together in the nude afterward.

When the three are at dinner one night in a Tel Aviv restaurant, Axel speaks privately to the Palestinian waiter, Rafik, and finds out where the best club in town is. Later that evening, Axel, Pia, and Eyal arrive at the club. Eyal is shocked to discover that it is a gay club. He sees Axel dancing with Rafik and is taken aback.

Eyal is initially disgusted and disappointed to discover that Axel is gay. He asks to be removed from the assignment, not attempting to hide his homophobia as the reason. His boss, Menachem, insists that Eyal finish the mission. Eyal visits Germany and comes to realize that Axel's orientation is unimportant. During the visit, Eyal defends a group of Axel's transsexual friends from attackers and, in doing so, reveals that he is fluent in German. He tells Axel that his parents were German, leaving out that most of the Jews in his mother's region of Germany had been killed by Axel's grandfather. Later during the visit, Eyal runs into Menachem, whose family was also killed by the grandfather's Nazi activities.

Axel invites Eyal to his father's birthday party. The guests are uncomfortable about Eyal's nationality and religion, but still polite. After the cake is brought out, Axel's parents surprise the guests by bringing out Axel's aged grandfather. Axel angrily confronts his mother and goes to Eyal's room, only to find a folder full of information on Axel's family. Meanwhile, Eyal meets with Menachem and tells him that they can easily take the grandfather and bring him to Israel to be tried for his war crimes. Menachem reveals that they are the only two on this mission, and the aim is to kill the grandfather. Eyal is clearly conflicted, but takes the case of poisons that Menachem gives him.

Eyal arrives at Axel's house and enters the grandfather's room, unbeknownst to all but Axel. Axel sneaks up behind Eyal and watches as he fills a syringe with poison, doing nothing to intervene. Ultimately, though, Eyal is unable to fulfill the task. He leaves, and Axel tenderly caresses his grandfather's face before turning off his oxygen tank, killing him. He goes to Eyal's room, where Eyal tells him that the suicide note his wife wrote told him that he kills everything that comes near him. Eyal says that he doesn't want to kill anymore and breaks down in Axel's arms.

The story jumps ahead 2 years. Eyal and Pia are married with a child named Tom and living on the Kibbutz. Eyal and Axel remain good friends.

 

27 December 2012

Yossi (2012)

yossi

Yossi (2012)


Director: Eytan Fox 
Writer: Itay Segal 
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Israel
Language: Hebrew
Duration: 84 min





Stars: Ohad Knoller, Oz Zehavi and Lior Ashkenazi





1Vjerujem da je večina čitalaca ovog bloga već odgledala film Eytan Foxa Yossi and Jagger iz 2002. godine. Za one koji su se zapitali šta se desilo sa Yossijem nakon Jaggerove smrti ovaj film pruža odgovor.
Yossi je nastavio živjeti kao doktor u jednoj bolnici predavajući se radu. Postao je poznati kardiolog. Na žalost profesija kojom se bavi narednih deset godina je i njegova jedina preokupacija. Već po nejgovom menlakoličnom izgledu se može vidjeti koliko malo misli na sebe, zapušten, ćutljiv i povučen pušta da život prolazi. Najbolji prijatelj i kolega sa posla ga pokušava izvući iz tog stanja , nabacujući mu žensku iako je čuo da Yossija žene ne zanimaju. Valjda je zato ponudio i sebe u kompletu sa tom ribom.
Film je pomalo spor, na momente se učini da ima višak scena, a ponekad da su neke scene koje bi voljeli da vidimo detaljnije nekako prebrzo završene. Dobra gluma i tehički odlično odrađen film nam popravljaju ukupan utisak.
Yossi se u trenucima samoće baca na drkanje  gledajući neke romantične porniće i tražeći preko interneta seks za jednu noć. Kada se jednom prilikom odvažio da stupi u kontakt sa nekim lokalnim pederom , pošalje svoje slike iz vremena kada je bio sa Jaggerom, stare 10 godina. Naravno to mu bude vraćeno na najgori mogući pederski način u vidu ponude kurca za pušenje i to iz sažaljenja.

4Yossi odluči da od svega pobjegne i ode prema Sinaju. Uz put pokupi neke vojnike koji su ga podsjetili na njegove vojničke dane da ih prebaci kolima jer su zakasnili na autobus. Tokom tog putovanja jedan od vojnika Tom mu skoro pa otvoreno kaže da je gay kako bi zadobio njegovu pažnju.
Yossi koji više ne vjeruje u sebe pun nesigurnosti odbija neku intimniju komunikaciju sa Tomom.
Narednih dana odsjeda u jednom hotelu pored mora. Tom je uporan i pokušava da razbije Yossijevu ljušturu.
Iako ne opisujem detaljno filmove, posebno ne kraj, moram spomenuti jednu scenu gdje Yossi ima prvi sex sa Tomom. Yossi gasi svjetlo, Tom pali i tako se ponavlja dok Tom ne ustane sa kreveta i počne da se oblači. Yossi mu kaže da ne može da ima seks ako je upaljeno svjetlo, a uvrijeđeni Tom drugačije neće.
Poenta je u tome da je Yossi nesiguran u svoj izgled, stidi se stomaka i svog izgleda pred mladim i zgodnim Tomom. Sa druge strane Tom ga ne doživljava kroz fizički izgled već kao muškarca koji ga je osvojio karakterom, iskustvom i ponašanjem.

Često se stariji ljudi povuku u sebe prezirući sopstveni izgled u ogledalu, ne shvatajući da u sebi imaju mnogo toga što može nekoga privući i emotivno i seksualno.
3To je cjena koju plaćaju zbog sopstvenog loše izgrađenog shvatanja seksualne privlačnosti. Bez snage da promjene mišljenje o tome postaju žrtve sopstvenih "pravila"
Film je zaista sjajno napravljen, u stilu Eytana Foxa koji u svakoj priči vidi dvije strane medalje.
Mene je podsjetio na moje sopstvene strahove kojih me je oslobodio jedan momak prije 3-4 godine. Mislio sam da pojavom sjedih vlasi više neću biti nikome privlačan i počeo sam se povlaćčiti u sebe. Jednom sam upoznao jednog jako zgodnog momka, poznatog sportistu koji se strašno ložio na mene. Na moje pitanje šta je vidio u meni te se tako loži, odgovorio mi je: Ti u sebi imaš pravog muškog seksipila i sa tobom osjećam da sam sa muškarcem u krevetu, a za mene biti muško ne predstavljaju pločice na stomaku i počupane obrve već karakter koji neko ima i način na koji se ponaša, hoda, jede, pije, spava,puši.... i naravno jebe.
Vidim da je skroz u pravu.


Review by Daniel Green
2Somewhat unfortunately released in cinemas at a time when sympathy for the Israeli military is perilously low, Eytan Fox's melancholic romance Yossi (2012) - the belated follow-up to his own Yossi and Jagger (2002) - is a surprisingly touching story of loss and rekindled sexuality. Featuring a sensual soundtrack (courtesy of Devendra Banhart and Israeli songstress Keren Ann) and several noteworthy performances, including key turns from Ohad Knoller and Lior Ashkenazi, Yossi functions well as a sensitive and emotive portrayal of one ageing individual's journey back from the depths of grief and despair.
Ten years on from the tragic death of his army compatriot and lover Jagger at the Lebanese border, ex-serviceman Yossi (Knoller) has a new life as a doctor in Tel Aviv. Closed off from his friends (?) and colleagues, this lonely thirtysomething snaps back to harsh reality when he meets and treats Jagger's mother, visiting his hospital for a routine medical examination. Revealing both his identity and his relationship with the deceased to the boy's near-speechless parents, Yossi departs for the solitude of Sinai. En route, however, he meets the vivacious Tom (Oz Zehavi), a handsome young soldier who sets our frowning friend on the long and winding road to recovery.

5Whilst there's little or nothing particularly new or revolutionary about the themes and subjects broached in Yossi (those looking for any real political subtext would be best served elsewhere), Fox constructs his delicate drama with a degree of elegance and poise, providing a more than satisfying arc of one man's salvation from the brink of depression. Yossi's own self doubt and demoralising lack of self esteem is perhaps most poignant of all - in an early scene, he's forced to apologise for posting a thinner, more youthful photo of himself on an online dating site - and effectively captures that sense of anxiety and desperation that can afflict the lost and isolated.
Though only present for the first half of Fox's film, Israeli cinema stalwart Ashkenazi (last seen in 2011 festival favourite Footnote) carries across most of the comic relief as Yossi's morally dubious guardian angel - not so much perplexed by our protagonist's sexuality than the complete lack there of. The overworked and under-loved doctor, played with stoic amiability by Knoller, seems confined to his own self-imposed abstinence, only eventually discovering true freedom outside of the clinical climes of the hospital gates and in the company of Tom and his raucous squad.
From a national cinema so preoccupied with dispute and conflict comes a heartfelt, warming tale of the healing power of companionship mutual attraction. There have undoubtedly been a plethora of better-made, better-presented world cinema efforts in what may be viewed retrospectively as a bumper year. Regardless, Fox's Yossi is certainly one of the most crowd-pleasing.
Visit: Orvel.Meyossi-fi

11 November 2012

Yossi & Jagger (2002)

Yossi_jaggerYossi & Jagger (2002)


Director: Eytan Fox
Writer: Avner Bernheimer 
Genre: Drama, Romance, War Country: Israel 
Year: 2002 
Duration: 65 min




Stars: Ohad Knoller, Yehuda Levi and Assi Cohen







yjhead02"Dont ask, dont tell" je neka prešutna formula koja važi za većinu vojski i policija u evropi pa i na balkanu. Ako se  prekrši to načelo, počinioci uvjek budu kažnjeni. Medjutim Eytan Fox nam sliku o zabranjenim ljubavima u vojsci prikazuje na jedan malo drugačiji način. Romantičan, komičan i na kraju jako tužan.
Odnosi medju drugovima u sredinama kakva je vojnička su nevjerovatno kompleksni, a zasnivaju se na iskrenosti i uzajamnoj želji za drugarskom podrškom da se istraje i opstane.
Granica koju postavljamo u toj iskrenosti kao i svudgje drugo ipak zavisi od toga ko stoji ispred nas i koliko povjerenje imamo u nekoga. Yossi i Jagger nam pokazuju kako ljubav može biti lijepa i teška u isto vrijeme. Tvrd vojnički stav i pravilo da je pokazivanje emocija znak slabosti je nešto sa čime se njih dvojica nose tokom cjelog filma. Medjutim postoje trenuci kada zaboravimo na sve oko sebe i požalimo što nismo ponekad jasno rekli najljepše riječi na svijetu.
Film me je podsjetio na mnogo momenata iz mog života. Jedan od njih je moj odlazak sa Splitske željezničke stanice. Pratio me je najbolji drug, noseći mi jedan ogroman kofer. Ćutali smo dok smo išli prema stanici. Tek kada je voz stigao na peron rekao je: " Neke stvari naprosto znamo i ne treba o njima govoriti, pazi se!"
I kod većine nas koji "znamo", a o tome ne govorimo ponekad se nametne pitanje: - Jesam li trebao reći?

Film sa titlom pogledajte OVDJE


yossi-and-jagger-knoller-levi"Yossi and Jagger" compounds the hell of war with the agony of having to keep one's sexuality a secret. The movie is also surprisingly lighthearted, thanks to Israeli director Eytan Fox's deft touch with comedy and old- fashioned romance.
Based on a true story and written for the screen by Avner Bernheimer, "Yossi and Jagger" captures the camaraderie and nervous energy of young soldiers at war. At a snowy outpost on the Israel-Lebanon border, the quarters are cramped, danger lurks around every corner, and sexual high jinks and general silliness take precedence over preparing for battle.
Spirits run high despite the troops' exhaustion. "It's biological warfare! " an army cook cries upon discovering the food in the camp fridge has spoiled. Two soldiers, crouched and ready to take on the enemy, kill time with a game of "who's better": "Popeye or Brutus?" "Michelle Pfeiffer or Sharon Stone?"
YossiAndJaggerSecret lovers Yossi and Jagger (Ohad Knoller and Yehudi Levi), desperate for time alone, embark on a "mission" into the wilderness, and director Fox exploits the winter backdrop for a lustrous, truly romantic love scene. Much of the scene's power comes from seeing Knoller's Yossi, the butch company commander, melt in the presence of his beau. Yossi's affectionate glances turn to flickers of shame once the pair are back at camp, in front of others.
Levi brings an impish charm to Jagger, but the character (nicknamed after the rock star) is more described than he is played. His fellow soldiers talk about how great he is, but he doesn't talk much himself, and when he does, it's mostly to berate Yossi about being closeted. Levi is a big soap star in Israel, so maybe his character's charms could be assumed when the film played in his home country.
Another soldier fancies a female colleague, but she's got a big crush on Jagger. Assi Cohen makes palpable this fellow's sexual frustration and his anger at having to compete with "sensitive" Jagger. The Betty Grable of the outfit, a saucy radio operator named Goldie, is shtupping the unit's married colonel -- an affair conducted practically in the open. Illicit heterosexuality, apparently, is far preferable to committed homosexuality in the Israeli military.
-- Advisory: This film contains raw language, violence, sexual situations.
-- Carla Meyer

yj-fi

02 October 2012

Eyes Wide Open (2009)




Einayim Petukhoth (original title)


Director: Haim Tabakman 
Writers: Merav Doster 
Genre: Drama, Romance 
Country:  Israel
Language: English, French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish
Duration: 91 min 
Year: 2009

Stars: Zohar Shtrauss, Ran Danker, Tinkerbell, Tzahi Grad, Isaac SharryAaron, a married Orthodox Jewish father of four living in Jerusalem, takes over his family’s butcher shop after the recent death of his father. Ezri, a nineteen-year-old homeless Yeshiva student, visits the shop to use the telephone. After turning down Ezri’s offer to help around the shop, he later finds Ezri asleep in the local synagogue and offers him space to stay at the shop. Aaron takes Ezri on as an apprentice and encourages his religious studies and his talent for drawing.

e two men become close after Ezri invites Aaron to take a ritual bath in the outskirts of the city. Rivka, Aaron’s devoted wife, initially welcomes her husband’s apprentice into their family circle. One evening after Aaron asks Ezri to draw his portrait, Ezri makes a sexual advance, which Aaron rebuffs. Later, however they kiss and begin a sexual relationship. Rivka becomes suspicious when her husband begins to arrive late at home. Rabbi Vaisben, a family friend, warns Aaron against associating too closely with Ezri, reporting that he was expelled from his local yeshiva, but Aaron defends him. Rivka, increasingly concerned, sees them leaving the shop together late at night. Being a devout religious man, living in a Haredi community, Aaron is torn between his family and devotion to God, and the intense feelings he has for Ezri .[2][3]
Aaron is repeatedly told that Ezri is a bad influence and perhaps even cursed; local people start warning Ezri to stay away from them. Flyers begin to circulate in the neighborhood, prompting many to boycott the butcher’s shop. Under increasing social, commercial and family pressure, Aaron tries to break off ties with Ezri but is unable to bring himself to do so. Confronted by Rabbi Vaiseben, Aaron is unabashed, feeling alive only now. Ezri encounters his former lover on the streets of their neighborhood, which escalates into Ezri being attacked by some locals. Aaron witnesses the attack but does not intervene. He consoles Ezri afterwards, but they both realize it is time for Ezri to leave the community. Aaron continues to be distressed by this, asking for Rivka’s understanding and protection. He returns early one morning to the spot where he took a bath with Ezri. He submerges himself beneath the water for a prolonged period before the camera fades to black.


Einayim Petukhoth (2009)
  • Director: Haim Tabakman
  • Writers:
    Merav Doster
  • Countries:Israel, Germany, France
  • Genres:Drama, Romance
  • Runtime:91 minutes
  • Actors:
    Aaron Fleischman (as Zohar Strauss)
    Zohar Shtrauss
    Ezri
    Ran Danker
    Rivka Fleischman
    Tinkerbell
    Rabbi Vaisben
    Tzahi Grad
    Mordechai
    Isaac Sharry
    Israel Fischer (as Avi Grayinik)
    Avi Grainik
    Sara
    Eva Zrihen-Attali
    Ultraourthodox Weirdo (as Haim Znati)
    Haim Zanati
    Ex-boy Friend
    Mati Atlas
    Head of Yeshiva Student in the Butchery (as Iftach Ofir)
    Iftach Ophir
  • Languages:Hebrew, Yiddish, German, French, English
  • Plots:
    Aaron (Zohar Shtrauss), a respected butcher and a family man in an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem, leads a conservative life of community devotion and spiritual dedication. Aaron's life undergoes a series of emotional changes following the arrival of a young apprentice (Ran Danker) to his shop. Consumed with lust, the handsome "Yeshiva" student irreversibly transforms the intricate beliefs in the once-devoted butcher's life - leading Aaron to question his relationships with his wife Rivka (Tinkerbell), children, community, and God.
    Written by kirstein-1 / edited by TrivWhiz
    A married, Orthodox, Jerusalem butcher and Jewish father of four falls in love with his handsome, 22-year-old male apprentice, triggering the suspicions of his wife and the disapproval of his Orthodox community.
    Written by TrivWhiz
  • Also known as:Pecado da Carne (Brazil), Du sollst nicht lieben (Germany), Tu n'aimeras point (France), Matia orthanoihta (Greece - festival title), Tágra nyílt szemek (Hungary), Eynaim Pekukhot (Israel - Hebrew title, alternative spelling), Med åpne øyne (Norway), Oczy szeroko otwarte (Poland), De Olhos Bem Abertos(Portugal), Širom otvorenih očiju (Serbia), С широко открытыми глазами (Russia), Eyes Wide Open(USA - festival title), Eyes Wide Open (World-wide - English title),
  • Rating: (4,489 votes)

06 February 2012

Mary Lou ( Tamid oto chalom ) (2009)

mary-lou-cover

Mary Lou ( Tamid oto chalom ) (2009)

 

Director: Eytan Fox

Writer: Shira Artzi
Year: 2009
Genre: Musical, Drama
Country: Israel
Language: Hebrew

 

Stars: Efi Bibi, Angel Bonani and Lior Cohen

 

Fanovima Eytana Foxa sigurno nije promakao ovaj sjajan mjuzikl (muzički film) koji nam je serviran u stilu poznatog muzičkog serijala Glee Cast. Naravno ovo je Gay Glee cast, pa će nam time još više privući pažnju. Priča počinje prikazom malog Meira kojeg na njegov peti rođendan napušta majka. Taj rođendan će pamtiti i kao najsretniji i natužniji dan u životu. Majka ga je zvala malim sanjarom i sa njim pjevala njihovu omiljenu pjesmu 'Mary Lou' od poznatog izraelskog pjevača Svika Pik. Njegov veseli šareni rođendan pogledajte ispod.

           >          

Nakon što ga majka napustila Meir odrasta sa njegovim ocem. Iako je kako kaže Meir postao nekako manje životan Meirov otac David mu je pružio svu moguću ljubav i razumjevanje. Sjajan čovjek, a uz to mi izgleda kao grom! Meir odrasta sa najboljom drugaricom Shuli, kao da su rođeni brat i sestra, sa njom dijeli sve svoje tajne, brige, ushićenja.. I tako do srednje škole dok se nije pojavio Gavriel, ljepuškasti momak u kojeg su se oboje zaljubili.

                    

Naravno Gavriel je izabrao Shuli, a nakom početnih neprihvatanja i ljubomore sprijateljio se i sa Meirom. Nakon velikog skandala u školi kada je Meir izveo predstavu u znak protesta zbog maltretiranja pošto je gay, Meir odlazi u Tel Aviv da traži Svika Pik, nadajući se da će mu pomoći da nađe majku. U Tel Avivu upoznaje Orija koji mu pomaže da se susretne sa Svika Pik. Ori inače radi u jednom Drag Queen klubu i sanja da će uspjeti kao pjevač. Transformacija u noćnom klubu vam može izgledati strašna ali i to spada u gej svjet, zar ne.

                    

Nakon neuspjeha da nađe majku Meir ostaje kod Orija i zapošljava se u klubu, a jednom prilikom se pokazao i kao uspješan tranvestit u jednom nastupu. ( drugi dio gornjeg videa) Shulli dolazi u Tel Aviv kod Meira i zapošljava se kao bebi siterka kod samohranog oca, u kjeg se vremenom zaljubi. Gavriel na jednom dopustu takođe dolazi u Tel Aviv da traži Shuli, ali umjesto nje susreće se sa Meirom i nakon ludo provedene noći završe u krevetu. Meir je ushićen ali i uplašen šta će biti kada Shuli sazna za njih. Medjutim Shuli shvati Meira i Gavriela i sa osmjehom ode kod čovjeka za kojim joj je srce kucalo! Prava romansa, a? Najbolja drugarica prepusti momka najboljem drugu. Hm?

                    

otacOri se upoznaje sa zgodnim taksistom Shlomijem koji ga prebije kad shvati da je Ori travestit. Ipak kasnije između njih nastane romansa u kojoj Shlomi nikako ne želi ni da vidi Orija u muškom izdanju, niti ga kao takvog prihvata, što na kraju rezultira Orijevom smrću.

Film Završava kao da ga je režirao Pedro Almodovar. Nakon što je završila Orijeva sahrana na kojoj je sa ostalim travestitima pjevao u spomen najboljem drugu, Meri odlazi kod Gabrijela u kasarnu, sa sve kostimom i plavom perikom. Gavriel u šoku i strahu kaže da ne može da prihvati da javno kaže šta osjeća.

Očajni Meri ide kod oca, koji mu na kraju kaže istinu o majci i zašto ih je napustila. Na dan njegovog rođendana otišla je u bolnicu jer nije željela da je pamte kao bolesnu ženu koja je potpuno izgubila pamćenje. Scena susreta sa majkom je dirljiva. Pogledajte: 

             

Boy Culture DVD Artwork.inddHaving recently been impressed with François Chang’s début feature finding source material in a Lady Gaga hit “Bad Romance,” it seemed an excellent time to view Eytan Fox’s four-part mini-series, Mary Lou.

In the same vein as crafting a musical/film out of songs (Mamma Mia!), the music of Svika Pick, the popular Israeli singer-songwriter (who briefly appears as himself) with a knack for pleasant tunes if somewhat saccharine lyrics (“Sometimes dreams come true” feeding the main plot of drag-queen-in-training Meir’s—Ido Rosenberg wears his gowns with the greatest of ease but is badly in need of a vocal coach for his non lip-sync numbers—search for his suddenly departed mom, Mary Lou—Maya Dagan plays the angelic role with faraway style; “All that remains a dull ember,” while Ori—the captivating Yedidya Vital, a.k.a. Miss Sunshine on stage—endures a beating at the surprised hands of a pick-up date whose journey to a very private place fastens on an unexpected bit of anatomy. (Sadly, with not even the pathetic character flaw in any way established, the bruised showgirl calls up her/his attacker and they begin dating.) Later “Some lives aren’t worth living” gets a chilling encore.

meir-and-gaviWithout a doubt, it’s the dance scenes that contain the best moments. Oz Morag’s infectious choreography is engagingly rendered by the ensemble, more than making up for the pedestrian plot points and limited characterizations. Having the considerable talents of The Holy Wigs—Jerusalem’s premie`re drag queen troupe—is another visual plus. Director Eytan Fox and his production team (especially director of photography Yaron Scharf) have captured the darting images with consummate skill and managed to edit down (Ron Omer, a master with every cut and fade) the many hours of takes into a snappy whole that will delight gay and straight crowds alike.

meirOf the remaining leads, Shumel Vilozni as David Levi—abandoned husband, uncomfortable with his son becoming a daughter for pay—bites his stoic tongue so long that his closing revelation seems as false as the manmade cleavage that stokes the female façade nightly. Meir’s best girlfriend Shuli is eagerly brought to adult life by Dana Frider who effortlessly morphs from wounded lover to enthusiastic fag hag. Her sometime boyfriend Gabriel (Alon Levi with camera appeal for any gender) opts to mask his sexuality in the military but is, nonetheless, helplessly drawn to Meir and his fully loaded pistol.

More telling than anything else, the inclusion of Charles Aznavour singing “What Makes a Man a Man” (just after the line “I change my sex before their very eyes” unintentionally reconstructs the last scene in Michel Tremblay’s Hosanna), succinctly demonstrates the power of superior song writing and delivery.

    

Nonetheless, for those who prefer their impossible dreams done up light and frothy, Mary Lou is highly recommended.

 

 

mery-lou-cover

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05 February 2012

Watch Over Me (2010)

wom-coverWatch Over Me (2010)

 

Director: Mysh
Writer: Mysh
Genre: Short movie, Horror 
Country: Israel
Year: 2010
Duration: 14 min

Original title: Shmor Alai (2010)

Stars: Zvika Forman, Davidi Hoffman and Guy Kapulnik

 

 

Ovaj Izraelski kratki horor film nam priča priču o gay vojniku Eitanu, koji je upravo završio specijalnu obuku za tajnu vojnu jedinicu. Nakon završetka obuke sa svojim drugarima izlazi u grad. Po čemu je on poseban pogledajte u ovom filmu.

    

Watch Over Me is a short Israeli film about a gay solider, Eitan, who has just completed his final training in a secret army unit. He's given a night off and taken out by his mates from the unit, to be initiated by his comrades. The two others in his unit are egging him on to deal with a gay man who came into the bar while they were drinking. Hoping to protect the guy, Eitan seeks him out, but when they get to the beach and become passionate the new Eitan emerges. All the descriptions of the film are vague and only allude to the soliders being special. 

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06 April 2009

Antarctica (2008)


Antarctica (2008)

Director: Yair Hochner
Scenario: Yair Hochner
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Israel
Year: 2008
Duration: 110 min
Rating: 6.6/10

Subtitle: English

Actors: Dvir Benedek, Hana Coller, Yael Deckelbaum, Lucy Dubinchik, Liat Ekta, Adi Fain, Ofer Ein Gal, Alon Harari, Noam Huberman, Tomer Ilan, Yosefa Kimhy, Korin, Danni Lachman, Noa Lazar, Dina Limon, Yiftach Mizrahi, Rivka Neuman, Yoel Noy, Yuval Raz, Ofer Regirer, Dana Ruttenberg, Oshri Sahar, Shirli Salomon, Tamar Yerushalmi, Guy Zoaretz



Description:
Ja volim jednog, taj me nece, drugi voli prvog, prvi voli treceg, treci voli drugog... i tako u nedogled. Svi izgleda vole pogrešnu osobu, niko nikog nece , a medusobno se svi pojebaše!
Tako je to na filmu, al cini mi se i u stvarnosti. Jednom sam upao u neko gay društvo u beogradu. To mi je bio prvi susret sa pederima koji se medusobno druže. Do tada sam uvjek nekako imao jednog muškarca pored sebe i curu! Al se nikada nisam susretao sa pravim pederskim društvom. I naivčina kakav sam bio, ja sve govorio istinu, od onog šta osjecam, šta želim , kako razmišljam itd A pederi namirisali novo meso pa sve oko mene, jedni druge ogovaraju , te ovaj je kurva, ovaj onakav, onaj ovakav....
U čudu se nadjoh, pa što se onda druže kada tako ružno jedni o drugima misle?! Kada neko gleda sa strane reko bi da je upao u skup ljudi gdje niko nikoga ne voli! A istina je da su se svi medjusobno kad tad pojebali. Na kraju kada su vidjeli da previše biram i da nikoga neću iz tog društva proglasiše me droljom koja se jebe po Adi Ciganliji u žbunju! He kada sam to čuo otrčao sam odmah u to nesretno žbunje da vidim šta se to tamo dešava! Al to je već druga priča.
Ovaj film me podsjetio na to! Svi nailaze na pogrešne osobe , al niko nekoga ne propušta! Bar po neki put da se pojebu pa da nastave potragu za nečim, a neznaju ni sami šta traže. Vikend sex sa nepoznatima je obavezna stvar! Valjda će preko kurca shvatiti ko je kakva osoba!
Pravi pederski film u režiji Yair Hochnera predstavlja nastavak Israelske gay produkcije!


Reyhan Harmanci, San Francisco Chronicle

Although "Antarctica" is far racier, less slapstick and of course not a television show, I couldn't stop thinking about "Friends" while watching the Israeli coming-of-age comedy. It has all the same elements: an outrageously attractive cast, somewhat wooden acting and a revolving bedroom door. The city of Tel Aviv seems to have shrunk to a population of around 10 people, with one street, one shop, one coin laundry, one library and, of course, the coffee shop.

"Antarctica" produces some nice moments between characters, but the artificial setup makes for many awkward, hollow interactions. What the film does have going for it are frequent and passionate sex scenes. These encounters have an honesty that the movie lacks - they do more for character development than the dialogue does.

The film opens with a series of split-screen encounters between one man (Boaz, played by Ofer Regirer) and a series of other men - shy dancer Danny (Yiftach Mizrahi), sexy journalist Ronen (Guy Zo-Aretz), comic relief character Miki (Yuval Raz), the eminently forgettable Eiten (Oshri Sahar) and the nerdy Omer (Tomer Ilan), who turns out to be the protagonist of the film.

The opening sets a brisk, if confusing, pace. Clearly, hook-up culture is as prevalent in Israel as it is in the United States. Names are seldom exchanged - hence the running joke about the slutty Boaz continuing to forget his encounters with Eiten until they meet again, in bed.

From that montage beginning, a title card announces that the main action takes place three years later. Omer, a good-looking gay librarian who is about to turn 30 (maybe the Courtney Cox/Monica character?) is clearly hungry for love. He goes on a blind date with the younger Danny (last seen shagging the much-older Boaz), which leaves both men feeling "eh." Meanwhile, Miki takes his Internet interactions offline with Ronan, who, most improbably for a journalist in this century, makes eyes at Omer at the library where he does research. He also, it must be said, looks much more like an underwear model than a reporter.

Omer's cute, lesbian kid sister, Shirley (Lucy Dubinchik), has some romantic troubles of her own - she was engaged to be married but longs to travel the world before settling down. At least, that's what she tells the older lesbian owner of the coffee shop, Michal (Liat Akta), whose over-the-top sexual innuendo toward Shirley seems more like workplace harassment than charming banter.

Like "Friends," these characters only seem to interact with each other. Perched on his stool at the library, the perpetually frowning Omer waits for friends to drop by. Ronan interviews a wacky author at Shirley's coffee shop and then later goes on a date with Miki there. Boaz, perhaps the least fleshed out character of the lot, runs into Danny, with whom he had a hot monthlong fling three years before, in a dance studio and pines for him (while continuing to sleep with many others.) And so on and so forth.

Part of the movie's problem is its length. At almost two hours, the inevitable plot machinations grind slowly. Ronen and Omer finally hang out but are stopped by Miki's fling with Ronen. The coffee shop's open-mike nights provide music for the soundtrack - a particularly alarming choice by the filmmakers - which is supposed to underline the characters' emotions. But the locale doesn't offer any insight into the characters. The film could have been shot on a soundstage in Los Angeles as easily as the streets of Tel Aviv.

Still, "Friends" was a hit for a reason: It's fun to see attractive people get together and fall apart. "Antarctica" offers the same soap-opera-like rewards to the audience. It was refreshing, too, to see the entirely queer world of the film presented so straightforwardly (no pun intended). However, romantic comedies in general are hard to pull off, and although "Antarctica" doesn't succeed as a love story, it manages a few hot nights along the way.




In Hebrew with English subtitles



11 September 2008

Ba'al Ba'al Lev (1997)


Ba'al Ba'al Lev (1997)

Ova kratka , mala pederska priča u trajanju od 36 minuta mi je tako dobro legla uz poslijepodnevnu kafu. Filčić je izuzetno koloritan, nekako prepun boja i emocija. Mogu reći nekako sanjarski! Siguran sam da će se onim pederima koji plaču uz filmove jako dopasti.

Režirao ga je Eytan Fox, nama već poznat po filmovima Buah, Ha- (2006). aka The Bubble, Walk on the water (2004), Yossi & Jagger (2002) i drugim.

Film je priča o četiri prijatelja Mitzy, Merito, Nohav i Guri. Guri i MItzi su odrasli zajedno i znaju sve jedno o drugom. Mitzi zna da je Guri peder iako nepričaju mnogo o tome.

Nohav je pederčić koji radi u jednoj plesnoj školi, uvjek šaren i nasmijan.Za amerikance kaže : Imaju sve, New York, MC Donald's, Hollywood, Madonna, tom Cruise, Chelsey, Klintonovu ćerku... al šta im to vrijedi kada nemaju Euroviziju!:) Ima sve ploče sa Eurosonga!
Merito je macho momak iz plesne škole! I Mitzy i Guri su zaljubljeni u njega.
Merito je biseksualac koji je prvo zaveo Mitzy , a zatim i Gurija, koji ga je uz neko trepčeće svjetlo izjebao.
Ono što ovoj priči daje posebnu draž je muzika iz raznih mjuzikla i francuskih šansona koje se protežu maltene kroz cijelu priču!
Pogledajte ovaj film , uživaće te!



Director: Eytan Fox
Writer: Gal Uchovsky (writer)
Genre: Short | Musical | Romance

Plot Keywords: Homosexuality | Eurovision | Closeted Homosexual | Coming Out | Gay Interest


Cast
(Credited cast)
Tzak Berkman ... Guri
Uri Omanuti ... Nohav
Sami Huri ... Merito
Osnat Hakim ... Mitzi

Also Known As: Gotta Have Heart

Runtime: 35 min
Country: Israel
Language: Hebrew
English subtitle:
http://www.sub-titles.net/ppodnapisi/download/i/163636

Gotta Have Heart, or as it was originally named in Hebrew: 'A Husband with a Heart' (Ba'al Ba'al Lev), was originally produced for Channel 2 of the Israeli Television, as a stand-alone film in a series named: 'Short stories about Love'. This film immediately stood out among the many other excellent films in the series, both due to its gay theme, as well as its campy and fantasy-like style.

The film relates to a classic Jewish musical: 'Kunilemel', telling the story of mixed identities of two identical twins, one an orthodox Jew and the other a secular. The two songs included in 'Ba'al Ba'al Lev' (as well as its title) are borrowed from 'Kunilemel': one dealing with the identity conflicts of its main character, the other with the marriage fantasies of its heroine, looking for 'a husband with a heart'.

The use of music has always played an important role in Fox's movies. This is demonstrated in his first short movie, 'After', where the original score was composed by Yehuda Poliker, an out-of-the-closet gay, one of the most successful and admired musicians in Israel, and the theme song 'Wave, Carry Me' sang by the Israeli mega-star Hava Alberstein (in Hebrew: 'Sa'eni Gal', Gal being the first name of Fox's spouse, Gal Uchovsky, credited for writing / screenplay in Ba'al Ba'al Lev and Walk on Water). In later films (Yossi and Jagger, Walk on Water) Fox has been working with Ivri Lider, another out-of-the-closet gay, a very successful young Israeli musician.




Watching this film several times by now, I still find it a rare gem. It is colourful, campy and fun to watch, and yet manages to entail intelligent notions. But most of all, it is highly touching, and like other Eytan Fox movies, this film leaves you with a tear in the corner of your eye. But unlike other Fox movies, in Ba'al Ba'al Lev this tear is accompanied by a huge smile that walks with you for several days after.
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