Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life

Jonathan Agassi was a successful international gay porn star. His rise to fame In the industry was stratospheric. He built his fame and success on what is considered a global taboo, but in fact pleases millions. Filmed over eight years, the documentary follows Jonathan Agassi from his native Tel Aviv to Berlin documenting his ascent to the top of the gay porn industry, as well as his struggles with drug addiction and depression. Through this intimate look at the world of porn and escorting, The film also uncovers a unique relationship between a mother and son who redefine familiar family concepts.

The film was reedited in 2022 for the upcoming release in the US.{{cite web

|title=Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life trailer documentary release date

|date=23 March 2022

|url=https://www.vimooz.com/2022/03/23/jonathan-agassi-saved-my-life-trailer-documentary-release-date/

|publisher=Vimooz

|access-date=11 April 2022}}

The film was supported By the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films and Channel 8 (Israel).

The Sound Design & Mix were doen by Itzik Cohen.

A reedited version of the film will be released theatrically in the US starting at the Village East by Angelika in New York on May 13, and at Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles on May 20. The Film was previously screened on BBC Four in March 2020.

The film had its international premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in November 2018.{{cite web

|title=Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life

|url=https://www.idfa.nl/en/film/b7eaad3b-2bc8-4066-bbe3-a08f63ec0480/jonathan-agassi-saved-my-life

|publisher=International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam

|access-date=19 April 2022}}

It won Best Documentary award & Best Editing Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival in July 2018,{{cite web

|title=Jerusalem film festival dive red cow dogman win top honors

|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jerusalem-film-festival-dive-red-cow-dogman-win-top-honors-1132052/

|work=The Hollywood Reporter

|date=3 August 2018

|access-date=19 April 2022}}

the Documentary Feature Special Jury Award at the Atlanta Film Festival in April 2019{{cite web

|title=Atlanta Film Festival Award Winners

|url=https://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/award-winners

|publisher=Atlanta Film Festival

|access-date=19 April 2022}}

and the Israeli Film Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2019.{{cite web

|title=Incitement, a film about Yigal Amir, wins Ophir award for best picture

|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/incitement-a-film-about-yigal-amir-wins-ophir-award-for-best-picture-602541

|publisher=The Jerusalem Post

|access-date=19 April 2022}}

The film also won the Best Feature Documentary at the GAZE International LGBT film festival in August 2019{{cite web

|title=GAZE Film Festival awards ceremony closes a phenomenal five days of queer cinema

|date=6 August 2019

|url=https://gcn.ie/gaze-film-festival-awards-ceremony-closes-phenomenal-five-days-queer-cinema/

|publisher=GAZE International LGBT film festival

|access-date=19 April 2022}}

and the Jury Award for Best Documentary at the Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival in October 2019.{{cite web

|title=Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival announces award winners

| date=11 October 2019 |url=https://www.windycitytimes.com/m/APPredirect.php?AID=67206

|publisher=eeling Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival

|access-date=19 April 2022}}

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 8 reviews.{{cite web

|title=Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life

|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jonathan_agassi_saved_my_life/

|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes

|access-date=19 May 2022}}

Kyle Turner of New York Times gave the film a positive review, saying "'Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life' achieves an impressive level of formal closeness with its subject while maintaining a critical distance from him, following his personal moments closely without over-sentimentalizing interactions."

{{Cite web |last=Turner|first=Kyle |date=May 12, 2022 |title=Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life Review |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/12/movies/jonathan-agassi-saved-my-life-review.html |access-date=May 12, 2022 |website=New York Times}}

Jude Dry of IndieWire wrote: "Finally, a film that sees sex workers as humans — unadorned, unbiased, and unafraid."

{{Cite web |last=Dry|first=Jude|date=May 21, 2022 |title=Not Feeling 'Pleasure'? 'Kamikaze Hearts' and 'Jonathan Agassi' Show Queer Porn Stars on Their Own Terms |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/05/queer-porn-stars-documentaries-kamikaze-jonathan-agassi-saved-my-life-1234726694/ |access-date=May 23, 2022 |website=IndieWire}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.heymannfilms.com/movie/jonathan-agassi-saved-my-life/}}
• {{IMDb title|8725518|Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life}}
• {{rotten-tomatoes|jonathan_agassi_saved_my_life|Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life}}
• {{Facebook|jonathanagassisavedmylife|Jonathan Agassi Saved My Life}}
• {{Cite news |title=Up close and personal with an Israeli gay porn star |last=Klein |first=Uri |work=Haaretz |date= |access-date=2 May 2022 |url= https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-up-close-and-personal-with-an-israeli-gay-porn-star-1.6449588}}
• [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/15/jonathan-agassi-saved-my-life-porn-industry-documentary-israel The Guardian article]

{{LGBTQ}}

Category:2018 films

Category:Israeli documentary films

Category:Documentary films about pornography

Category:2018 documentary films

Category:Israeli LGBTQ-related films

Category:2018 LGBTQ-related films