By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.3 cats
Director: Eytan Fox
Starring: John Benjamin Hickey | Lihi Kornowski | Miki Kam | Niv Nissim | Peter Spears
Country: israel, united_states
Year: 2021
Running time: 89
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9733388/reference
Cheryl says: “This film is simply melodramatic, filled to the brim with silent sequences where the protagonist, Michael, attempts to use a myriad of facial expressions to convey his feelings, and often spews dialogue that is frankly on-the nose and clichéd. I could not connect with this character – I really had no idea what he wanted or why we the viewers should care. The city of Tel Aviv looks fabulous but it does not function as a character, merely as a backdrop for a rather contrived story. The scene with the baby at the beach at the midpoint of the film is just too much. Even though it has special significance for Michael as someone who wants to be a father, and is presented as in his relationship to the younger Tomer as a nerdy sexy father figure, it is over-the-top in its stereotypical portrayal and as such, strains credulity. The final scenes, when Michael, played by John Benjamin Hickey, and Tomer, portrayed by Niv Nissim, hook up and then say a teary goodbye, are equally lacking in subtlety and authenticity. I suspect that the screenplay was adapted from true-life experience without the benefit of advice on how to adapt a story for the screen. Tomer is charming if vapid; Michael inscrutable. Fox is a well-respected, award-winning director, but the concept had much more potential than what is realized here. Hints of Bicycle Thieves with its tragic sentimentality and obvious father-son role reversal. 2.5 cats
“Screened at the Provincetown International Film Festival”
Michael says: “This one was tough, because I’m a big fan of Eytan Fox (YOSSI AND JAGGER, WALK ON WATER, THE BUBBLE), and usually enjoy his films. I realized after sitting with SUBLET for a few days, and reading Cheryl’s review, and thinking on BOY MEETS BOY and the problems I had with that film, that I was giving SUBLET a break because of my past history with the filmmaker. In the end, I didn’t really like it all that much.
“American actor John Benjamin Hickey plays Michael, a middle-aged travel writer for the New York Times, who travels to various places and tries to experience them through the lens of native rather than a tourist. In Tel Aviv, he has sublet an apartment in a trendy neighborhood, but the young man renting the apartment to him got his days confused and is not prepared for his arrival. Michael offers to grab a hotel for the first night, but Tomer, a very attractive, much younger (mid to late 20’s?) gay man won’t hear it and instead rush around making the place presentable and dashes off to find a place to stay. He’s an aspiring filmmaker in grad school and needs the money, after all. It soon becomes apparent that Michael is UPTIGHT and routine driven, while Tomer is creative and free-spirited. Michael is involved in a stable, long-term relationship, Tomer doesn’t believe in anything so… limiting. Due to a few script twists, Tomer ends up staying on his own couch and acts as Michael’s tour guide to experience the city as a true native. Further complications emerge when we learn that Michael had a recent disappointment recently revolving around he and his partner’s desire to adopt a child. In the end, Tomer loosens Michael us, and Michael teaches Tomer something about commitment and dare I say it… love. A tearful farewell at the airport is a bit overmuch.
“It’s a shame, because a good story could have been told from the premise, if the characters hadn’t immediately been shows as types, and lived up to them until they discovered something different in each other. Tel Aviv looks great, and the film is nicely shot and edits. The performances are fine, but aren’t really unable to rise above the disappointing script. Here’s hoping Eytan Fox comes back with something more challenging in the not too distant future. 2.5 cats
“Screened at the Provincetown International Film Festival”
Chris says: “In his first feature since 2013, Israeli director Eytan Fox returns with another culture-clash romance along the lines of YOSSI AND JAGGER and THE BUBBLE, but with far less of a political slant. Middle-aged American travel writer Michael (Jon Benjamin Hickey) comes to Tel Aviv for a five-day assignment and makes arrangements to sublet young film student Tomer’s (Niv Nissim) apartment. The two are opposites in temperament, but as Tomer offers to show Michael the ‘real’ Tel Aviv, they become pals edging towards something deeper. There are few major surprises here (apart from a revelation about Michael’s recent past late in the film) but Hickey and Nissim are both well-cast and the connection they make, however gradually, feels organic if not entirely original. 3.25 cats
“Screened at the Provincetown International Film Festival”
Philip says: “spend time together. a perfect score for this sensitive, honest, slice of life. Now I really want to go to Tel Aviv. 5 cats“