scififangeek I enjoyed Yossi far more than Yossi & Jagger, of which it's a 10-years-later sequel to. The superb film explores the real and very human experience of loss and depression. The writer/director, and especially the actor in the role, captured Yossi's despair in a poignant and visceral way. Anyone who has experienced the depths of depression for themselves will recognize it as all too familiar.Upon my first viewing, I will admit that I was uncertain about the love interest. I thought he might be too young for Yossi. I would've preferred someone a bit closer to mid-thirties than mid-twenties. However, that said, I recognize that part of the appeal of Tom was that he was a reminder of what Yossi once had, and lost. Therefore it was a sort of healing of the past for him as well as a healing of the heart.At first, the ending was a bit too sweet and saccharin for me as well. But after I viewed the entire film once more, I began to see that perhaps it shouldn't be taken quite so literally. It is far more about hope and possibility, about moving on and finally living life, rather than about running away and "forever".It's deplorable, though, how some reviewers elsewhere disparage Yossi's physical appearance. It's shallow and devalues the beauty of the film itself. Some may not know it, but that is what deep depression truly looks like. And yes, a person can be that mired in a deep depression for 10 years, or even longer, quite easily. Can become stuck in time. Anyone who has battled depression throughout their lifetime would probably concur on that.There was a reviewer who brilliantly suggested that Yossi's outward appearance is actually a representation of his inner self. That what we see is how Yossi sees and feels about himself, not necessarily how he appears to others. I quite like that take on it.Yossi transcends films that focus almost solely on the "sexuality" aspect of a character or story. It gives the audience much to think about because it's a study on the human experience. More and more, films with queer characters are pulling away from the "queer" genre toward universal themes, telling more universal stories. I hope it's a trend that continues.A great deal of thought and care went into creating the film, and I think that's very clear from beginning to end. Yossi is wonderful and should be watched at least twice through because there is so much to discover. I wish more films were this exceptional and well-made.

ciffou I liked this one better than its predecessor. I think there were more "grown up" "mature" moments, silences that were endearing yet not that forced into the plot. Someone here wrote that it bothered him that just because Yossi was slightly overweight he was presented as repulsive. Of course it is like that when most gay men pray for young lusty flesh. It's the same pressure that women face when media portrays only young top models size 0, have you noticed the men in the advertisement world?. I've even heard people saying that most of the times a fat gay men is almost invisible. It is so with apps like "grindr" and that's what the movie reflects upon but more than that it shows you Yossi's own perception of himself and how he let himself go after losing the man he loved. (I haven't actually met anyone mourning for that long but it is nice to think someone could love you like that).SPOILERS AHEAD Although I really liked there were no big epiphanies and Jagger's mom didn't call Yossi back for a big final Disney hug, I consider that they were certainly trying to be too pleasing with that ending. Ending it with a "forever" is kind of a cheap "They lived happily ever after". I only needed to see Yossi moving forward. That's all. Even if this relationship doesn't last (after knowing themselves for what? 4 days?) it is good for him to put himself out there and come out of his shell.I enjoyed it. It resonates with the loners.

Movie Critic A pudgy older Yossi (Ohad Knoller 37) is now a 34 yo doctor-- cardiologist no less. He wouldn't look half bad if he would lose 30 pounds... one kind of likes the gay heroes to look appealing in these movies. I kept thinking well the romantic interest will be fun to look at. WRONG First of all it takes an hour and half to get to the romantic interest and what a disappointment= Four queens posing as Israeli soldiers are picked up by Yossi on his way to a Red Sea resort. The only thing they do is make him look decent in comparison. You know the type burned out too much instant tan makeup plucked eyebrows etc... queens.They may have been younger and thinner but zero in the sexy department. Too much makeup all those distortions that take away and don't add. All their forced masculine antics looked like that forced and didn't disguise for a second their basic essence.At first I thought it might be the 4 soldiers in drag doing the singing in the first night club scene (joking). But in any case what were enlisted recruits doing staying at a $500 a night resort hotel?Some queen must have had a hand in the casting-- a disaster! Recast this thing and develop the relationship with the gay soldier for more than 5 minutes and it could be a 10. Put Yossi on an extreme make over weight and chin implant.... and get some masculine normal actors for the soldiers. Get the actor who played in Eyes Wide Open.I give it a three for the basic story which although bit maudlin rings basically true. The undressing should have been done in the dark. No one finds hairy beer guts sexy.There are lots of good Israeli movies this is not one. Try Eyes Wide Open for gay themed one.DO NOT RECOMMEND

jm10701 Yossi is a sequel to but not a continuation of Yossi & Jagger, and I don't care that this movie doesn't carry that romance to new heights of ecstasy. This is a story of what happens to Yossi later in life; the fact that ten years later Jagger isn't still an integral part of it is both normal and fine with me.What does offend me greatly is the way Yossi is presented as if his being over 30 and slightly heavier than an anorexic fashion model makes him gross and repellent, incredibly lucky if any man even slightly younger or thinner looks at him without vomiting or at least sneering. Obesity is far too extreme a term, and even overweight is unreasonable. Yossi is a normal size, and he is by far the sexiest man in this movie. It's any other man who's lucky to get him, not the other way around.The movie's second great offense is Lior Ashkenazi, as Yossi's pseudo-friend and fellow cardiologist Moti. Somebody in addition to Ashkenazi himself evidently finds him overwhelmingly attractive, but not me. I can't stand him. The most disgusting, most infuriating movie scene I've seen in years has him bringing a girl into the bar toilet where Yossi is peeing and trying to work up a sleazy threesome even though Yossi clearly isn't interested.I know Moti is supposed to be disgusting, as are several others in this movie; but I already know that most people - especially straight men (and, unfortunately, most young gay men, like a smug, insufferable jerk Yossi meets online, and even the supposedly hot but arrogant and ugly soldier Tom who forces himself on Yossi near the end) - are disgusting, and having offensive behavior rubbed in my face doesn't entertain me.I love Ohad Knoller, and the older and beefier he gets the sexier he gets, but he's wasted in this sadly and annoyingly shallow movie. Eytan Fox laid an egg this time.