A criminally overlooked Netflix drama, Unorthodox, has captivated audiences with its intimate portrayal of an underrepresented religious community, drawing comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale for its examination of a woman's struggle within a rigid belief system.
The series, loosely adapted from Deborah Feldman's 2012 memoir, was created by Anna Winger and Alexa Karolinski, directed by Maria Schrader. It premiered on 26 March 2020 and is Netflix's first series predominantly in Yiddish, also featuring English and German.
The four-part mini-series follows a young ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman who flees her arranged marriage and community to start anew in Berlin. It earned eight Primetime Emmy nominations, winning Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, making it the first German production to win an Emmy.
Shira Haas leads the cast, supported by Amit Rahav and Jeff Wilbusch, with Alex Reid, Ronit Asheri, Gera Sandler, and Dina Doron in the ensemble. Critics have praised the series, giving it a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and viewers have described it as 'riveting' and 'enthralling'.
One critic noted the show is 'fresh and unique' compared to clichéd detective stories, while a viewer wrote that it is 'courageous, honest, beautiful, inspirational and full of hope and determination'. The series has been lauded for its careful and respectful portrayal of a rarely depicted culture.
