Unorthodox is the new German mini-series released on March 26 on Netflix. Adapted from the autobiographical novel Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman, the mini-series was scheduled to compete internationally at the Séries Mania festival. Unfortunately, the festival was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unorthodox is the story of Esther Shapiro, nicknamed Esty, a 19-year-old girl living in New York. Coming from an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family, she decides to flee after a year of arranged marriage to Yanky Shapiro. This mini-series plunges us into her daily life among a sectarian community, but also into her new life in Berlin as a free woman.
An unusual community
Relatively unknown but nevertheless present, the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community has many mysteries. Here, thanks to Anna Winger, Esty's story reveals the customs and rules of this unusual community. The existence of women in this community is subject to a panel of stricter rules. Esty is different and doesn't want to live like that. She wants to discover herself, to live. In short, it suffocates. Without falling into religious clichés, this German production soberly depicts the uses and customs of the Hasidic community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Despite the juggling between English, Yiddish or German, Unorthodox looks at itself without difficulty. 
The character of Esther Shapiro, played by Shira Haas, a 25-year-old Israeli actress, moves. Brilliantly interpreted, Esty makes us discover her daily life and share her thirst for freedom. We follow his journey from New York to Berlin, jumping from past to present and vice versa. Everything is perfectly tied up which allows the viewer to let himself be carried away by the flow of the story. Especially since the mini-series is composed of only 4 episodes of 50 minutes each. Which, we agree, can be seen very quickly.
Discovery of the world and oneself
It is often said that going abroad nurtured self-discovery. This could not be more true for Esty, who takes a simple flight to a new life. The parallel between his stuffy New York family and his new group of encouraging Berlin friends reinforces the sense of freedom. Feeling sought by Esty in her quest for self. Despite this, the chains of the past are sometimes stronger than we think, and the girl will very quickly pay the price. 
Unorthodox is the mini-series that gives hope. This is the series that makes you want to believe in your dreams, to dare, to travel. Going to the other side of the world is here a way to detach oneself from one's chains, to finally be oneself. Anna Winger offers us here a faithful adaptation to the autobiography. In addition, it offers us hope, hope for these young girls who dream of another life far from here, new horizons, freedom. Thus, Unorthodox illustrates with sincerity the daily life of millions of young people, girls or men, who dream of breaking their chains. No time for a series of 3 seasons with 12 episodes each? Unorthodox is for you. 4 episodes, 1 season, a lot of emotions. Available on Netflix.
Unorthodox Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9I-ioAx0O0
