Shablulim BaGeshem (2013) Reviews

• Misled but satisfied

  dbkdances2015-05-04

  Just watched this film, and as other reviewers have indicated, the cover photo is misleading. I think those reviewers who refer to the hero as homosexual, are missing something. Boaz has always been afraid of his own same-sex attraction, and as often as not, strikes out against any gay man who approaches him. One could label him a gay-basher. Homophobic bisexual probably fits him more accurately. The story takes place in 1989, one year after homosexuality has been decriminalized in Israel and four years before gays could serve openly in the army. As such, it takes place in a time of great change. This factoid may have also played a part in his inner struggle. Yoav Reuveni, beyond eye candy, gives a nuanced performance. The production is well-paced and professional (a far cry from the early Israeli-gay films). I'm glad to see that Eytan Fox is not the only great Israeli director of gay-themed films.

• Consuming paranoia reigns in "Snails in the Rain"

  sinnerofcinema2013-07-17

  It's 1989, Boaz (Yoav Eruveni), an extremely alluring and captivating linguistic student is receiving anonymous letters. He goes everyday to the post office to check on the status of a pending scholarship. Instead, he receives obsessive letters detailing very inner feelings from someone very close to him who's invaded his inner peace with emotionally suggestive and romantic overtones. These letters have a deteriorating effect on his psyche as well as his relationship with live in girlfriend Noah (Moran Rosenblatt). As the letters progressively consume the daily thoughts and dealing of Boaz, his inner anguish is unleashed upon his girlfriend, hence having a threatening and corroding effect on him. Paranoia takes over when everyone he meets becomes a possible suspect of the daily correspondence. Doubt ensues as a very conflicted, emotionally fragile and volatile Boaz goes on a quest to find himself while trying to maintain some semblance of sanity as he comes to grips with the reality that his life will no longer be the same courtesy of this secret admirer. Filmmaker Yariv Mozer has assembled an eloquent, intriguing and sexually charged whodunnit drama that slowly unravels the different layers of the main characters inner self. The arrivals of these letter are only the catalyst to which the main character reacts in order to find and deal with his inner demons. Once he's found the cause for the way he's feeling, his passage to acceptance ultimately prove to be sobering and freeing. This is an excellent and involving film from Israel which reflects the many conflicting layers of despair as the hidden realities of relationships within the confines of higher education propels true feelings to surface forcing the conflicting main character to find himself in the process, as he tries his hardest to blend in with family and society's expectations.

• A good film about a serious situation

  Red-1252014-10-26

  Snails in the Rain (2013) is an Israeli film written and directed by Yariv Mozer. It stars Yoav Reuveni as Boaz, a handsome and intelligent college student. Life is going well for Boaz--he's awaiting a scholarship offer that will probably arrive, he's well-liked, and he has a charming woman who is his fiancée. When Boaz checks his mailbox for the scholarship letter, what he finds instead is a series of notes written by an anonymous male admirer. Boaz is uncertain about his sexual orientation. He had a male partner when he was in the military, but appears committed to his female partner now. The problem--for me--arose when Boaz committed an act of sexual violence against his partner. She let him off with, "That hurt. Don't do it again." I think she should have seen this as a red flag. You'll have to see the movie to learn how it ends. My guess is that the story will play out for Boaz long after the closing shot of the film. We saw this movie at the Little Theatre as part of the wonderful ImageOut Rochester LGBT Film Festival. It will work well on DVD.

• An emotional battle

  Gordon-112015-04-18

  This film tells the story of a university student who lives with his girlfriend. He receives anonymous love letters from a man, which unleashes his difficult battle with his sexuality. "Snails in the Rain" places a lot of emphasis on the emotional battle of the main character, Boaz. He is clearly homosexual, and yet he denies himself of his sexuality. The film portrays his troubled life - how he suspects or fantasises every man he sees to be the writer of the romantic love letters. Yet, he continues living with his girlfriend, denying himself and his girlfriend of the happiness they deserve. It is quite a suspenseful but sad film. In addition, eye candies are far from frequent, and those who expect sex scenes will be disappointed.

• When being beautiful hurts...

  alcorcrisan2014-09-20

  An interesting film made in Israel, verging on the thriller and being erotically charged throughout its duration. A kind of staccato rhythm that slowly but surely takes the hero, as well as the characters around him, and the members of the public towards the climax. A study in human nature, and a very beautiful human nature, quite a painfully so one, as the young man seems to feel the gaze of everyone looking at him as a sort of blade cutting through his thin layers of conformism and indecision. The claustrophobia induced by the ever-present girl-friend and exacerbated by the heat alternates with the memories of brief moments of truth and courage lived in the army. Rather disappointingly, the end is marked by a more or less voluntary choice of turning one's back on courage and returning to the trodden path of cowardice and avoidance of one's inner truth.