As obvious as the metaphor is, ‘Rubber Dolphin’ isn’t only about what the title suggests. The 25-minute short film, which was screened in the students’ section of the Cannes Film Festival, is extremely self-aware. What is considered to be a semi-autobiographical look into his own life, the director Ori Aharon brings a narrative that tries to define what intimacy is. It features explicit scenes but doesn’t solely rely on them. Having studied in a film-school, he cleverly handles his craft for a situation placed in just a single location, and devoid of any ostentatious actions.

The whole narrative unfolds in just a single room while being in close proximity to its subjects. For a conversation happening between two gay lovers, the film never loses its authenticity while touching several topics that often remain unspoken. They cuddle, smile and share the joy of merely being there. Both of them...