There is no question that Yesod is not your regular film and this is very evident from the very first scene. The film tells its story in a cryptic manner, shrouded in some level of mystery, and is quite reminiscent of some of Christopher Nolan's early works.
Yesod is set in a post-apocalyptic world after solar radiation has wiped out nearly every human on the planet, though this is not very evident from the onset of the film. The only survivors are two humans, an unnamed male and female protagonist. Both live in seclusion protected from the harmful effects of the sun. However, trouble brews when they discover each other, and a battle for survival ensues for the rest of the film, with each one of the two struggling to better the other in their mutual quest to emerge as the sole surviving human.
At the very core of the film is a story of a love-hate relationship between two vastly different human specimens and in this aspect, the film succeeds. It manages to depict a constant conflict between the two protagonists, with occasional ceasefire as they struggle to understand each other, and co-exist after such a long time of living in adversity with the rest of the world. Besides the plotline, the film also excels in its cinematic value. Stunning camerawork, great editing to piece together the scenes and moving complementary soundtracks all work together to deliver a powerful short film that bests most other films in its category.
While an altogether great film, Yesod faults in its significant lack of context. As a first-time viewer, one is tossed deep into the plot, and is left to grapple with the vast information delivered in the short length of the film. The almost nonexistent dialog, while serving to create suspense, also contributes to this problem and limits how much information is directly conveyed to the viewer. They are left to their own means, to glean information from the vast labyrinth of the film and to figure out what is happening and the timeframe of the events of the film as they take place.
Yesod, which was written and directed by Nizar Nassar, is the product of the director's fruitful imagination and the joint effort by the entire film's crew. The austere quality of the release far outshines any minor issues with the film and makes it well deserving of your time.