Unorthodox – 8.2

A flawlessly told story of a young woman’s escape from the psychological and physical clutches of the ultraconservative Satmar Hasidic community in Brooklyn. In four episodes (with no sequel to follow), we watch Esty, played brilliantly by Shira Haas, grow from a shrinking and confused misfit into, somewhat improbably, a talented musician with great friends, a loving mother and a new life in Germany. The Hasidic community, the villains of the piece, are nevertheless portrayed with some sympathy. If that’s your cup of tea, it’s a comfortable life; but tea is not for everyone, and if you don’t like it no one should make you drink it. The Rachel Weisz movie Disobedience (2017) told pretty much the same story. If you combine that, this, Our Boys and a little Uncut Gems, you get a pretty consistent picture of Orthodox Jewish communities, outsiders living among us.