The short animated documentary Hora is available to watch at the top of the page.
A man and a woman holding hands in the street is a common sight that usually goes unnoticed, but the same cannot be said when members of the same sex hold hands in public. Yoav Brill’s short animation documentary, Hora, presents a range of attitudes from men in the LGBTQ community about their desire to celebrate their relationships in public while also feeling afraid of embarrassment, violence, and offensive reactions. Through a colorful and humorous collage animation, the film showcases recorded conversations that Brill had with members of the community. These conversations bring up disagreements among members about the custom of holding hands. Some see it as an old-fashioned and awkward theatrical gesture, while others view it as a way to express love and affection. They talk about their desire to openly display their feelings in public, just like everyone else.
The film presents different perspectives on a subject that should be marginal and personal. Still, the fact that it had to be addressed at all reveals the lack of security and freedom that members of the LGBTQ community feel in public spaces. Watching the film provides a different perspective on a custom that may seem essential and unimportant to one public but can be a controversial issue for another.
Yoav Brill shares: “When I created the film, I lived in the Shapira neighborhood in south Tel Aviv. I had a partner, and I never thought of holding hands with him in the neighborhood (or anywhere else, I’m one of those people who are embarrassed by the custom). On the other hand, it was common to see African immigrants walking around the neighborhood when they held hands. This is because in their countries, homosexuality is less acceptable, and holding hands is seen as an expression of innocent friendship between mature men, rather than a sign of a gay relationship. The irony of the same custom being perceived in completely different ways by different communities ignited in me the curiosity from which the film was born.”
The film Hora was produced in 2014 as part of a collection of films called “Gutman Double 5,” initiated and produced by Yair Hochner for the Tel Aviv Gay Festival, TLV Fest.
The short animated documentary Hora is available to watch at the top of the page.
