Nadav Lapid's 'Yes!': Israeli director's wartime film raises eyebrows and ire

In this episode of The Times of Israel's The Real Schmooze, hosts Amanda Borchel-Dahn and Jordan Hoffman dive into the controversial Israeli film 'Yes!' by director Nadav Lapid, which has sparked intense debate both in Israel and internationally. The film, a two-and-a-half-hour stylistic and ideological assault on Israeli society and its war policies, opens with a chaotic, drug-fueled party sequence and follows a disillusioned artist’s journey to compose a militaristic anthem in response to the October 7th Hamas attack. The hosts dissect the film’s provocative elements, including its use of a real-life controversial song adaptation, its fictionalized depiction of a child’s death, and its on-location filming near the Gaza border—raising questions about artistic integrity, political messaging, and the ethics of using real trauma for cinematic effect. While Amanda strongly dislikes the film’s execution, calling it 'atomic oi' and overly long, Jordan acknowledges its boldness and artistic merit, even if it fails to resonate with him personally. The discussion also touches on the film’s funding from the Israel Film Fund, sparking debates among left-wing audiences about BDS boycotts and the paradox of engaging with art from a state they oppose. Beyond the film, the episode explores broader cultural themes: the role of art in times of war, the power of music and performance (highlighting a standout piano duet between Lapid’s wife and the lead actor), and the irony of pairing 'Yes!' with the 1960 pro-Israel epic 'Exodus' for a future episode. The hosts reflect on how both films are unapologetically political—'Yes!' as anti-establishment critique, 'Exodus' as nationalist propaganda—making their back-to-back viewing a powerful commentary on how narratives are shaped. The episode closes with a reminder of the ongoing Israeli holiday season, including Yom HaShoah and upcoming Remembrance Day and Independence Day, underscoring the deep cultural and historical context that informs the film’s reception. Listeners are encouraged to engage with the complex moral and aesthetic questions raised by Lapid’s work.