(May Contain Spoilers)
I am a big fan of this limited series, because it brought a culture to the screen that is unknown and that has not been seen (in this way) before! I found myself learning so much about orthodox Judaism just through watching the show, from a Jewish wedding, to the Rabbi’s role within the Jewish family and what they believe. I was most shocked about how reserved the culture seemed to be the outside world, however, were so open about sexual relationship inside the community, even to the point where Etsy (Shira Hass) is brought a vibrator! Unorthodox is a coming-of-age story about New York, orthodox Jew, Ester (Esty) who marries Yanky Shapiro (Amit Rahav) but runs away from her religion and community, travelling to Berlin to stay with her biological mother, Leah (Alex Reid).
Throughout the 4-part series, there are flashbacks showing Etsy meeting Yanky for the first time, being married and their marital relationship a year after their marriage, as well as fast-forwarding to the present with Etsy in Berlin. When arriving in Berlin, Etsy meets Robert (Aaron Altaras) in a coffee shop and helps him carry drinks to his student musician friends at the music school. Etsy, having shared a love for music with her Babby/Grandmother (Dina Doron), stays to listen to the orchestra rehearsal and falls in love with the school, later trying to earn a scholarship. Etsy meets back up with the students and becomes friends with them, going to lakes and nightclubs and gets particularly close with Robert. Meanwhile, Yanky and his gamble-addict cousin Moishe (Jeff Wilbusch) are sent Berlin by the Rabbi (Eli Rosen) to collect Etsy and bring her back to New York.
The most beautifully poetic scene is the lake scene, where Etsy sheepishly takes off her tights and grandma floral blouse and walks into the water. Etsy removes her wig to reveal a shaven head and floats in the river whilst the sun slowly sets in the distance. From here Etsy begins to find herself, which is beautiful to see.
Through the flashbacks the audience get to see how far Etsy has come, by showing the person she was, being a fragile young girl in a loveless marriage with pressures put upon her to make the man feel ‘like a king’ and get pregnant. Etsy, being a virgin before marriage, tries to have sex but hurts, which leads Yanky to ask her for a divorce at the untimely moment that Etsy was about to tell him she was pregnant. Moishe tracks down Etsy and threatens her to come home with him and Yanky, but instead she finds refuge with Leah. It is also revealed that Leah was similar, and that Etsy was taken away from her, she didn’t abandon her like the community said. Finally, Etsy has her scholarship audition, which she sings at, beautifully, whilst her friends, Leah and Yanky watch. Etsy meets with Yanky afterwards and is strong in telling him that she does not want that life anymore.
I was overwhelmed by this storyline and in such a short space of 4 X 1hour episodes. I think part of the honesty might steam from the inspiration by Deborah Feldman’s 2012 autobiography, Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots. I loved that Netflix are going strong with bringing different cultures and inclusivity to our screens as I am learning more about the world and the different people’s stories in it. I also loved that the series was spoken in Yiddish, although being dyslexic at time was hard to keep up with and watch the show. The cinematography of the lake scene was my favourite, as mentioned, it was beautifully lit and the performances from Shira Haas was exceptional.
Stream the limited series now on Netflix.
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