Yes (2025) by Nadav Lapid

Nadav Lapid’s controversial and visually explosive drama transforms the aftermath of the October 7 attacks into a surreal examination of artistic compromise, nationalism, and moral responsibility.

Few contemporary filmmakers generate as much discussion as Nadav Lapid. Known for acclaimed works such as Synonyms and Ahed’s Knee, Lapid has built a reputation for challenging audiences through provocative storytelling, emotional intensity, and political confrontation.

Yes may be his most ambitious and polarizing work yet. Set in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, the film follows a struggling jazz musician and his dancer wife who become entangled with powerful elites while navigating questions of patriotism, artistic integrity, and national identity.

The result is a film that refuses neutrality, demanding emotional and intellectual engagement from its audience.

Y., a struggling jazz musician, and his wife Yasmin, a dancer, survive by performing for wealthy patrons while trying to support their young family. Living on the margins of society, they are suddenly presented with an extraordinary opportunity when a billionaire commissions Y. to compose a new national anthem in the wake of the October 7 attacks.

What initially appears to be a career-changing opportunity gradually evolves into a profound moral and personal crisis. As Y. travels across Israel and confronts the realities surrounding the conflict, he is forced to question the role of art, patriotism, and personal responsibility during moments of national trauma.

The story becomes an increasingly surreal and emotionally charged journey through a society struggling to define itself.

• Fans Of Political Cinema: The film directly engages with questions of nationalism, power, and collective identity. It uses satire and symbolism to provoke discussion rather than provide easy answers.

• Viewers Familiar With Nadav Lapid’s Work: The film expands many of the themes explored throughout the director’s career. It represents one of his most personal and confrontational projects.

• Audiences Interested In Contemporary Israeli Society: The story offers a highly subjective but compelling artistic response to recent historical events. It captures a society wrestling with grief, fear, and contradiction.

• Art-House Cinema Enthusiasts: The film embraces experimentation, surrealism, and unconventional storytelling. Its visual style is as important as its narrative.

• Viewers Who Enjoy Debate-Generating Films: Whether admired or criticized, the film is unlikely to leave audiences indifferent.

• Viewers Seeking Traditional Narrative Structure: The film often prioritizes ideas, emotion, and provocation over conventional storytelling.

• Audiences Sensitive To Political Satire: Its perspective is intentionally provocative and may challenge viewers across the political spectrum.

The film is best approached as a political and artistic statement rather than a conventional drama.

Audience reactions have been deeply divided, a response that mirrors the film’s confrontational subject matter. Some viewers have described it as a fearless masterpiece that captures the psychological shock and moral confusion surrounding recent events in Israel. Others have criticized its extreme style, lengthy runtime, and deliberately provocative tone.

Many supporters have praised Ariel Bronz’s intense central performance and Lapid’s willingness to challenge dominant narratives. Critics of the film, meanwhile, argue that its symbolism can feel excessive and that its emotional intensity occasionally overwhelms its storytelling.

The divided response confirms the film’s status as one of the most debated international releases of the year.

One of Yes‘s most distinctive qualities is its combination of absurdist satire and emotional urgency. Rather than depicting national trauma through realism, Lapid uses exaggerated performances, surreal imagery, and heightened situations to explore a society in crisis.

• Art Becomes A Political Battleground: The protagonist’s assignment to compose a new anthem transforms music into a symbol of national identity.

• Satire Replaces Conventional Commentary: The film critiques power structures through absurdity, exaggeration, and provocation.

• Personal Crisis Mirrors National Crisis: Y.’s internal struggles reflect broader social and political tensions.

• Emotion Drives The Storytelling: The film prioritizes feeling and experience over factual explanation.

These choices create a cinematic experience that feels both unsettling and unforgettable.

Yes reflects a growing trend in international cinema toward exploring major political and historical events through intensely personal narratives. Rather than focusing on leaders, institutions, or historical reconstruction, filmmakers increasingly examine how ordinary people experience moments of national crisis.

The trend resonates because audiences often connect more deeply with individual emotional journeys than abstract political analysis. By following one artist’s moral and creative struggle, Yes transforms a complex geopolitical reality into a deeply personal story about identity, responsibility, and belonging.

This approach has become one of the defining characteristics of contemporary political cinema.

At its core, Yes asks difficult questions about the relationship between artists and power. What responsibilities do artists have during moments of national trauma? Can creative expression remain independent when it becomes tied to political narratives and public expectations?

The film does not offer clear answers. Instead, it explores the emotional, moral, and psychological consequences of trying to navigate these dilemmas in a deeply polarized environment.

Its significance lies not only in its political commentary but also in its willingness to confront uncomfortable questions.

Despite its divisive reception, Yes has become one of the most discussed international films of the year. The film premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight section and continued to generate attention throughout the festival circuit.

• Cannes Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award Nomination: The premiere established the film as one of the festival’s most talked-about titles. The recognition brought significant international attention.

• Israeli Film Academy Best Film And Best Director Nominations: Multiple nominations highlighted the film’s artistic and cultural significance within Israeli cinema. The recognition extended across acting, cinematography, and supporting performance categories.

• José Salcedo Award For Best Editing At Valladolid: Editor Nili Feller received recognition for the film’s dynamic and highly stylized construction. The award highlighted one of the film’s strongest technical achievements.

• Cahiers du Cinéma Top 10 Recognition: Ranked among the publication’s most notable films of the year. This reinforced its standing within global art-house cinema.

These honors demonstrate the film’s importance within contemporary international cinema, regardless of its polarizing nature.

Yes is not designed to comfort audiences. Nadav Lapid delivers a challenging, excessive, emotional, and often confrontational film that pushes political cinema toward surrealism and artistic provocation.

Its combination of satire, social critique, and personal storytelling will not work for everyone, but its ambition is impossible to ignore. Ariel Bronz delivers a remarkable central performance, while Lapid continues to demonstrate why he remains one of the most distinctive filmmakers working today.

The result is a bold and divisive film that captures the anxieties, contradictions, and emotional turbulence of a society confronting trauma and uncertainty.

• Movie Themes: Patriotism, artistic responsibility, nationalism, identity, and moral compromise. The film explores how creative expression functions during moments of collective trauma.

• Movie Director: Nadav Lapid. The acclaimed filmmaker delivers one of his most personal and politically charged works to date.

• Top Cast: Ariel Bronz, Efrat Dor, Naama Preis, and Aleksey Serebryakov. The ensemble supports a film driven by emotional intensity and symbolic storytelling.

• Awards & Recognition: Winner of the José Salcedo Award for Best Editing at Valladolid and recipient of 13 major nominations, including Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and Israeli Film Academy recognition. The film has become one of the most discussed international releases of the year.

• Why Watch This Movie: The film offers a provocative blend of political satire, personal drama, and artistic experimentation. It is likely to appeal to viewers interested in bold and challenging cinema.

• Where To Watch: Released in the United States in April 2026. Check MUBI, Criterion Channel, Prime Video, Apple TV, and regional art-house distributors for current availability, as streaming rights may vary by territory.