Directed by Eytan Fox
Where & When: Laemmle Royal, West Los Angeles, CA. June 19, 2021 4:10 PM
The Israeli filmmaker, Eytan Fox was introduced to audiences with his 2002 breakthrough feature, "Yossi & Jagger". At only seventy-one minutes, this moving film, which tells the story of two soldiers stationed at the Israel–Lebanon border who are having a clandestine romance, brought the director international acclaim with an infrequent drama at the time involving a gay relationship. The openly gay Fox would focus on queer themes in his subsequent work in film and television, including his latest, "Sublet". The focus of this compelling drama is on two very different gay men -- culturally, socially and generationally -- who unexpectedly develop a profound friendship that is built without lustful desire or romantic passion but through mutual trust and intimacy.
Michael (John Benjamin Hickey), a middle-aged travel writer for The New York Times, has just landed in Tel Aviv for an assignment. He arrives at the apartment he has arranged to stay in for five days when Tomer (Niv Nissim), an aspiring filmmaker who is subleting his place, has completely lost track of time and unprepared to welcome his guest. Michael offers to find a hotel but the young Israeli man insists that he stay, confessing he really needs the money. After Tomer rushes out, Michael tries to settle in to the cluttered rental. He has a husband (Peter Spears) back in New York and during a video chat, we get a sense there is some unresolved tension between this long-term couple.
The next morning, Tomer returns to the apartment to pick-up something he left behind and the two begin to chat. Michael explains that he has come to write about his experiences visiting interesting places in the city, mentioning a few. After informing him that those places are hardly the best in Tel Aviv and knows of far more appealing destinations, an intrigued Michael asks Tomer to escort him to them. This begins their days-long journey involving discovery and self-discovery.
Carefree and fiercely protective of his independence, Tomer is a modern queer man who refuses to be clearly defined or tied down to anyone. He finds Michael's aspiration for a heteronormative lifestyle curious and a little sad. But as he gets to know more about Michael, this opens him to understanding the possibilities of a deeper connection with just one person. And watching Tomer's relaxed approach to living his life, a fussy, uptight Michael begins to reconsider what he really wants and needs in his own life and relationship.
The plot of "Sublet" may be slight and predictable yet the film still manages to charm and be completely engaging due to the intimate moments between these two men, sharing their dreams, fears, desires and disappointments. This the first film role for Mr. Nissim and Mr. Hickey is a recognized and celebrated character actor of stage and screen. The actors deliver wonderfully honest, lived in performances as these two strangers hesitantly begin to open up to trust each other.
Michael (John Benjamin Hickey), a middle-aged travel writer for The New York Times, has just landed in Tel Aviv for an assignment. He arrives at the apartment he has arranged to stay in for five days when Tomer (Niv Nissim), an aspiring filmmaker who is subleting his place, has completely lost track of time and unprepared to welcome his guest. Michael offers to find a hotel but the young Israeli man insists that he stay, confessing he really needs the money. After Tomer rushes out, Michael tries to settle in to the cluttered rental. He has a husband (Peter Spears) back in New York and during a video chat, we get a sense there is some unresolved tension between this long-term couple.
The next morning, Tomer returns to the apartment to pick-up something he left behind and the two begin to chat. Michael explains that he has come to write about his experiences visiting interesting places in the city, mentioning a few. After informing him that those places are hardly the best in Tel Aviv and knows of far more appealing destinations, an intrigued Michael asks Tomer to escort him to them. This begins their days-long journey involving discovery and self-discovery.
Carefree and fiercely protective of his independence, Tomer is a modern queer man who refuses to be clearly defined or tied down to anyone. He finds Michael's aspiration for a heteronormative lifestyle curious and a little sad. But as he gets to know more about Michael, this opens him to understanding the possibilities of a deeper connection with just one person. And watching Tomer's relaxed approach to living his life, a fussy, uptight Michael begins to reconsider what he really wants and needs in his own life and relationship.
The plot of "Sublet" may be slight and predictable yet the film still manages to charm and be completely engaging due to the intimate moments between these two men, sharing their dreams, fears, desires and disappointments. This the first film role for Mr. Nissim and Mr. Hickey is a recognized and celebrated character actor of stage and screen. The actors deliver wonderfully honest, lived in performances as these two strangers hesitantly begin to open up to trust each other.
"Sublet" is a safe yet fascinating character study set in a time post-marriage equality. The film gently touches on the rarely discussed conflict between domesticated gays wanting to be seen as "normal" by society and others continuing to embrace being proudly queer which means not following societal expectations. While there have been several gains made since the fiery explosion of the Stonewall riots, we certainly still have very long way to go before there is true equality for all in the LGBTQIA+ communities.
