REVIEW: ’15 Years’ from Breaking Glass Pictures
Photo: Oded Leopold stars as Yoav in 15 Years. Photo courtesy of Breaking Glass Pictures / Provided by press kit.
Yuval Hadadi has created a touching and important drama with his latest film, 15 Years, which is now available on DVD and VOD from Breaking Glass Pictures. Set in Israel, the movie surrounds the struggling relationship between Yoav (Oded Leopold) and Dan (Udi Persi). They have lived together for many years — 15, to be exact — but their latest obstacle proves to be insurmountable: Dan, a younger lawyer, wants a child with Yoav, an older architect.
Yoav reminds Dan, as he has reminded him time and again, that he has no interest in raising a child, but Dan is committed to the idea. And a fissure forms between the two.
This question of fatherhood causes Yoav to have something of a mid-life crisis. He recognizes his age when compared to Dan, and he realizes he is no longer the man he used to be. He seeks solace from a best friend, Alma (Ruti Asarsai), but increasingly Yoav ends conversations in bitter fights.
To get away from it all, Yoav moves out from his flat with Dan and starts to live a solitary life. Being alone will either cement his need for a change in his romantic life or perhaps send him back to Dan with a possible compromise.
Hadadi’s film is a poignant character study. The role of Yoav is finely written by the director and finely acted by Leopold. The audience watches him descend into an abyss, and it’s a real shame because he seems to be a nice guy (or at least was one at some point). His journey takes him to rock bottom, and it’s up to him to realize the uselessness of his folly and how much he in fact loves Dan.
During Pride Month, it’s always a good idea to find new and exciting movies that showcase real and authentic gay relationships. Without a doubt, 15 Years fits this bill. It’s a touching and emotional tale with expert acting, believable dialogue and a genuine anguish that pervades the protagonist and the people he comes in contact with. It’s a heartfelt winner that explores the pain of parenting, the difficulty of making life’s big decisions and the power of love.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
15 Years (2019). Written and directed by Yuval Hadadi. Starring Oded Leopold, Udi Persi and Ruth Asarsai. In Hebrew with English subtitles. Running time: 89 minutes. Rating: 
