Yossi & Jagger : Israeli Region 2 (PAL) DVD Release Specs

The Israeli Region 2 (Pal) Disc is exceptionally good. It includes the original televised version of the film, one piece of music used in the film on this Israeli release is different when compared to the international theatrical DVD release versions. The transfer used is the best I have ever seen of the film, no blemishes and the picture is pin sharp. The Israeli Region 2 disc contains all of the following:

1 "Yossi & Jagger" (Original Version made for Israeli Cable TV Film Channel)

Sound Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Optional Subtitles Hebrew and English
Aspect Ratio 4:3 Full Screen

2 Extras

Eytan Fox Short Film "Time Off" (a.k.a. "After") from 1990 (Duration 45 mins) with optional French or English subtitles. http://www.imdb.com/board/10098993/

Music Video #1 Ivri Lider 'Bo' Hebrew Version
Music Video #2 Ivri Lider 'Bo' Int'l English Version
(The above are 2 completely different videos made for the 2 language versions of the song)

'Making Of' video in Hebrew (no subtitles available)

Theatrical Trailer (with English subtitles)

Menus are all in Hebrew which makes navigation of the disc rather fun but not difficult.

You can buy the Israeli Region 2 (PAL) release at http://www.israel-music.com/various/yossi_%26_jagger/dvd/ who are very reliable and deliver worldwide.

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The Aspect Ratio is 1.33.1, 4:3 Full Screen. As far as I'm aware the only anamorphic transfer of the film on DVD is the German Region 2 Special Edition, which only offers German language subtitles. All other region releases are either in 4:3 Full Screen or 4:3 1.66.1 Letterbox.

On looking at the Dutch DVD 4:3 Letterbox (1.66.1) version I have, the picture has been cropped top & bottom when compared to the Israeli DVD 4:3 Full Screen version. Personally, I think that the original for TV was a 4:3 version and a 1.66.1 cropped version was made for the theatrical/ cinema release, giving it a 'widescreen' appearance. This could also explain the slight musical differences between the 2 DVD versions.

I've sent an E-mail to the films distributors to clarify the real Original Aspect Ratio of the film when it was originally made for TV. Also I've asked them why there are 2 versions of the film with 2 slightly differing music soundtracks.
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Thank you very much for this info!

As the Dutch edition wouldn't play properly on my computer, I thought I would have to wait for the British one which will be released mid-November, but when I saw your message I immediately ordered the Israeli edition at the website you mentioned. It arrived this weekend and fortunately my computer has no problems with it! :)

The picture quality on the Israeli DVD far exceeds that of the Dutch one, it's a perfect copy without any blemishes. You made a good decision. On the disc you should try and watch the Eytan Fox short film "Time Off" (a.k.a. "After"), which is one of the extras. It gives a good insight into where the original concept of Yossi & Jagger came from. Enjoy trying to track it down using the Hebrew menu, I managed not too badly.

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I have not watched it yet, but I definitely will. So far Ive seen Y&J, the trailer, the two music videos and the Making of (which made me want to learn Hebrew). Your info certainly helped me find everything in the menu. :)

One question though regarding Y&J: I thought the original version for Israeli Cable TV lasted only 45 minutes, but, although I had to watch it in bits and pieces, the version on the DVD seems the same as the one I saw on ARTE a few weeks ago (over an hour long). I didnt think there was anything missing. Only the scene where they dance to the techno music seemed a bit shorter, is that what you meant with one piece of music is different?

No, it's the scene where Ofir makes a pass at Yaeli when they're both alone and sitting on the bed. The music that is playing on the portable CD player is different when compared to the Dutch version of the disc. Scene 7 on the disc, just after Yossi takes Jagger the dessert he didn't stay behind for.
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Ah, I see. Thanks!

The running time is the same as the cinema release (+/- 67 minutes), so the version on the Israeli DVD cannot be the original version made for television. That does still raise the question of why there is a slight music soundtrack difference between the Israeli DVD and other DVD releases. Most odd.
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Yes, it's very odd. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with it:

"Continuity: When Ofir is listening to music with Yaeli in the bedroom, the CD display shows the number 2, while there's a music playing. A few moments later, the number on the display is 3, though the song is still the same."

Check between the 2 versions, the Dutch & the Israeli. You'll find that actual song playing in the background, that we get to hear, is different on the 2 discs. It is on the 2 versions I have. Still most odd.

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I can't compare them, I had to return the Dutch version because my computer had trouble playing it. The image kept disintegrating, it fell apart into rectangles (I don't know how to put it otherwise) throughout the whole DVD. I exchanged it for another copy, which looked exactly the same, and then I got my money back. (Very happy that the Israeli DVD was OK!)

But I thought maybe, because they apparently filmed during two tracks, they picked one song for the Israeli version and the other song for the rest. I have no idea why, though.