YOSSI AND JAGGER
Israel, 2003, 65 minutes, Colour.
Ohad Knoller, Yehuda Levi.
Directed by Eytan Fox.
Yossi and Jaeger is a brief Israeli film which raises questions about two issues, social and personal.
The social issue is that of the military, Israel's defence and defensiveness, especially with young recruits, especially with those doing National Service, both men and women. The film shows the outposts, their activities, the camaraderie, the pressures. It also shows the superiors, chain of command. It also shows the dangers and military action and death.
The personal issue is that of homosexuality, the two central characters are in a relationship, are soldiers, on the outpost, concealing the relationships, while trying to give it expression. The film shows the pressures of secrecy as well as military life on this kind of relationship.
1. The impact of the short running time? Establishing situation, atmosphere, characters and relationships?
2. The Israel- Lebanon border, the winter season, the snow? The day in the life of the soldiers? The night ambush and destruction? The musical score?
3. The Israeli themes, the army and its preparedness, young people in the forces and then leaving for their future lives, the difficulties of the military, characters, relationships, homosexual relationships?
4. The title, the focus on the two men, seeing them in their military context, the suggestions of a relationship, their going out together in the snow, the return, their places in the military, Yossi and his being in charge, Jagger and his carefree attitudes? The ambush, Jagger being hit, his death, the aftermath of the wake?
5. The Israeli military, the young people in the military, their being placed together on the Lebanese border? The military centre, the number of people, the commander and his arrival, his bringing the two women, his sexual encounter, the meal, his being in charge? The other men, the opening with their digging the grave - for the food which had gone off because of the power failure? Their having been out on ambushes, being tired, horsing around? The meals?
6. The focus on individuals, their brief screen time for their characters, the cook and his attitude? Yossi and Jagger within this context? The two women, Goldie and her being there for the commander, flirting with the men, music and dancing? The other girl and her focus on Jagger, contriving the meeting at the sentry post, making the other man jealous, intimating sexual behaviour that was not there?
7. Yossi and Jagger and the lyrical scene in the snow, their relationship, love for each other, the music, the singing? Their return? Sitting at different tables? Yossi with the commander? Jagger and his fooling around, asking the other men what would happen if they thought he was gay and their different reactions? The tension with Yossi before the ambush, the promise to take him to meet the family? In action, Jagger being wounded, Yossi caring for him, giving him the kiss of life, declaring his love?
8. The build-up to the ambush, the men having to go out, the irony of their sitting on the explosives, the injuries and deaths? The helicopter coming? The reaction of all concerned?
9. The aftermath, the wake at Jagger's home, the family, the soldiers present? The girl declaring her love for Jagger and saying that he returned it? The effect on the mother? The contrived dialogue to highlight the relationships - the mother not knowing her son, the question about his favourite song, the girl not knowing, Yossi explaining which the song was (from an Israeli drag star)? His acknowledging his relationship with Jagger?
10. The film's perspective on relationships, heterosexual, homosexual? Authentic care, love, the consequences?
