Through the first act of YOSSI, Ohad Knoller, as the eponymous heart surgeon, moves numbly across the smooth, blank, featureless backgrounds of contemporary Mediterranean architecture, living the empty blank, featureless life of major depression. Although respected, liked, and loved, even lusted after by his colleagues, Yossi has closed himself off. His homosexuality is, mostly, closeted. His current life closed off from his experience fighting with the IDF in Lebanon, the subject of Fox’s 2002 break-out film, YOSSI & JAGGER.

… Yossi sets off on a heavily telegraphed Death in Venice tour of the deserts of southern Israel.

After a grimly touching interlude with the parents of his (long) dead lover Lior (aka “Jagger”) which bears a resemblance to Brokeback Mountain, Yossi sets off on a heavily telegraphed Death in Venice tour of the deserts of southern Israel. In the grotesque resort of Eilat, a sort of turbocharged Middle-Eastern Butlins, he is methodically seduced by the spirited, and out, Tom (Oz Zehavi), a serving IDF officer on leave. Fruity enough to be a credibly contrasting love interest to Yossi’s lumpy every-bloke without being too impossibly glamorous, Tom’s cheerful and open approach to life and love brings Yossi close enough to happiness to do for now.

Mostly hand-held camera work and mainly neutral cinematography add an air of restrained, realistic storytelling. The supporting characters are drawn with simple, clear stokes and the story unfolds at a very suitable pace. While the cast is good throughout, Knoller’s minimal but moving performance makes the film, every silence deep, every tiny gesture meaningful.

YOSSI screens at the Arts Picturehouse at 6pm on Thursday 20th September. Tickets here.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUOBN_uahrI