'Unorthodox': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and everything else about Netflix's part-Yiddish miniseries
Netflix seems to be trying to recreate the success it had with distributing the Israeli TV drama ‘Shtisel’, with 'Unorthodox' about an ultra-Orthodox woman in New York who abandons her community and husband to start over in Berlin. The show is based on the autobiography of the same name by Deborah Feldman. The show, keeping it authentic, will be part-English and part-Yiddish (with subtitles).
According to Maria Schrader, the director, series explores “female emancipation, identity, and sexuality through the prism of a unique young woman’s experience”. Anna Winger and Alexa Karolinski adapted Feldman’s novel for the screen and Eli Rosen of the New Yiddish Repertory Theater in New York was hired for the translation work. The series is produced by Winger’s Studio Airlift and Henning Kamm at REAL FILM Berlin.
Release date:
'Unorthodox' premieres on Netflix on March 26, 2020.
Plot:
Unorthodox tells the transformative story of a young woman named Esty from Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She lives by the strict rules of the Hasidic community until one day, she breaks away from her arranged marriage and travels to Berlin to find herself. But just as she begins to discover a whole new world, her past catches up to her.
Cast:
The main female lead will be played by Shira Haas, an Israeli actress, who also starred in 'Shtisel' and 'The Zookeeper's Wife'. The cast will also include Israeli actor Amit Rahav, and Jeff Wilbusch ('Bad Banks', 'The Little Drummer Girl'), a German-Israeli actor, who grew up in an ultra-Orthodox community.
Creators:
The creative team has women in key roles for this four-part miniseries. Actor-filmmaker Maria Schrader is in the director's seat. Schrader’s 'Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe' won the European Film Awards’ Audience prize. She previously helmed 'Love Life' and co-directed and starred in 'The Giraffe'. Her more recent acting credits include 'Fortitude', 'Deutschland 83' and 'Deutschland 86'.
Anna Winger, a Jewish American TV writer based in Germany, is the executive producer for the series. She is the creator of the television drama 'Deutschland 83' and author of the novel 'This Must Be the Place'.
Where to watch:
All episodes of 'Unorthodox' will be available to stream on Netflix on March 26.
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