Unorthodox begins and ends with Shira Haas. Literally and figuratively.
Some masterful actor has passed in front of these eyes over the years, but Israeli Shira Haas is something special, giving a sample of a completely masterful acting. Well, "acting" sounds almost a bit bland. She is completely absorbed by her role. Has a senseless nerve, a memory game that holds a myriad of emotions, an urgent presence. She is barely an upper hand tall, but has a pondus that towers over the rest of the ensemble.

Here is Shira Haas , 19-year-old Esther Shapiro, who, after growing up in ultra-Orthodox Judaism in the Williamsburg district of New York, and an enforced marriage, finally takes courage and flees to freedom.

The series is based on Deborah Feldman's biography of life in the tightly controlled existence, which is located in the middle of "the world's freest country". It is deeply reactionary, quite backward. Like Amish, though with braids. Odd clothes and rock hard rules to keep members on the mat.
Sex is only allowed on Fridays and only for reproductive purposes (only after the woman has gone on a purification bath for seven days after menstruation) - because God has said that.

At times, their many regulations and prohibitions are laughable - not to mention the solemn hats that look like giant fur pucks - but they are, at the same time, symbols of a harmful and individually oppressive religion ... no, the exercise of power. Power, more than faith. If you believe the movie. And Esther's mother, she who did not stand out, who left the community - and her daughter - for a free life in Germany.

The mother's betrayal is a wound that has never healed in the main character, and it is there, to Berlin, that she is already on her way to the first scene of the series. Although Esther grew up in America's largest and most modern-day city, she has never set foot outside Williamsburg, so meeting modern-day Berlin is shocking. As if stepped out of a time machine, she stares big-eyed and frightened at nasty things like gay couples, Muslims and buttocks.

Esther meets a bunch of students at the city's finest music school and is drawn into a new kind of collective, which is as free-spirited and life-affirming as the home front was closed and condemning. Yes, the image of the multicultural new existence becomes a bit greasy, but can be seen as a reflection of Esther's newly saved state of emotion.
But in the rabbits she has her real husband, a timid man who is portrayed with a friendly look, and his more hard-nosed cousin who has been commissioned to bring Esther into the fold again.

Anna Winger and Maria Schrader (script and director respectively) made a name with the global success series Germany 83 (with sequels) and here too they deliver an exciting, habil and stylish creation - which in many ways follows the usual series template. And, at the same time, they are guilty of some ambiguities.
But the four sections are uninterruptedly engaging, as can be a history of hidden worlds. The series makers avoid black painting, endeavor to give the reprint shades as well.

Well, here is a slightly disturbing tendency to reinforce what is already told, but then Unorthodox is probably also meant to be seen in portions, not in a single long sitting - it is important to recalibrate the instrument when eliciting long screen fiction in a short time.
However, it is said Shira Haas who lifts this series from good to a must, who actually manages to keep his character alive and unpredictable from first to last box. Esther is energetic, happy, insecure and obvious. Vibration of ambivalence.

Bonus: The Orthodox Jews are increasingly appearing in film and television. Recently in the Rachel Weisz movie Disobedience, and now in two series - besides this one also in Israeli feel good and family drama Shtisel - where actually exactly Shira Haas plays one of the big roles. I have had the series recommended to me before but honestly have not been so embarrassed but now, with Shira Haas, Shtisel gets to the top of my big digital must-see-high.