Passover begins: 8 must-see series and films blending Jewish festivities and traditions

This Saturday, with the departure of the first star, begins Pesaj, the Jewish holiday commemorating the liberation of the Hebrew people from Egypt, according to the book of Exodus. Passover, as it is also called, lasts eight days and he is in charge of ancient traditions, including family dinners (seder) with symbolic foods representing the feelings of the Jews during the years of slavery in Egypt. Since the beginning of audiovisual productions, Judaism and its traditions are often a popular subject for telling stories through film and television. Therefore, on the occasion of Pesach, we present to you a selection of eight series and films that combine festivities, traditions and customs to discover Judaism and its different branches.

SERIES

Unorthodox

The mini-series in four episodes of Netflix what was that fashionable in 2020 while a large part of the world’s population was confined by the coronavirus pandemic. The series tells the story of Esther “Esty” Schwartz, a young ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman from New York who decides to change her life and leave her Satmar Hasidic community (Orthodox religious movement) to find a more secular lifestyle in Berlin.

The drama directed by Maria schrader show it Conservative customs and traditions of one of the most orthodox communities in Judaism. Their doctrines hinder Esther’s decision (interpreted by Shira haas) of escape your arranged marriage to adopt a freer life away from the impositions and restrictions of Hasidism.

The story is inspired by the autobiography of Deborah Feldman Unorthodox: the scandalous rejection of my Hasidic roots (The scandalous rejection of my Hasidic roots). For her excellent work, Maria Schrader won the Emmy Award for Best Director of a Mini-Series. In addition, Unorthodox was nominated for the Golden Globes Awards for Best Miniseries and Shira Haas for Best Actress in a Miniseries.

Shtisel

Another production that shows the traditions and customs of ultra-Orthodox Jews, but with a touch of humor and tenderness. Is israeli series tells the story of a Religious Jewish family living in the Geula neighborhood of Jerusalem. Clan members live under strict religious rules, which means that some are starting to be drawn to other more open and liberal lifestyles. The series follows the dramas experienced by members of the Shtisel family, led by the Rabbi Shulem (Dov Glickman), who still can’t get over the death of his wife, while his youngest son, Akiva (Michael Aloni) suffers because he cannot find a woman to marry.

Created and written by Ori Elon and Yehonatan Indursky, Shtisel, who also plays Shira Haas, premiered on Israeli TV in 2013, but achieved worldwide success when Netflix began offering both seasons (of twelve episodes each) in its catalog in 2018. On Thursday, two days before the start of Passover, the platform launched the third season of the series, which includes nine chapters.

The wonderful Mrs. Maisel

Not all series on Jews are ultra-Orthodox. The wonderful Mrs. Maisel (its title in English) is a original comedy by Amazon which gained a lot of popularity in Latin America thanks to word of mouth. The series revolves around Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), nail Young New York Jewish mother in the 1950s who believes he has his life arranged: married, two children and a luxurious apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan ready to receive everyone at the Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) dinners. But it all falls apart when her husband decides to leave her all night. It was then that Midge suddenly found himself in the lift (monologue) his catharsis style and discover that he is able to make people laugh without wanting to.

The series shows the more open customs of a typical Jewish family upper middle class of Manhattan. Although not Orthodox, Midge, her parents, and in-laws frequent Jewish environments and respect religious holiday traditions, such as the Yom Kippur fast.

The award-winning comedy by Amy Sherman-Palladino, creator of Gilmore girls, This is one of the best that the Amazon Prime platform has to offer.. He’s won Golden Globes, Emmys, and Television Critics and Screen Actors Guild awards. It has outstanding performance, especially of Alex Borstein (Susie Myers, Midge Representative) and Tony Shalhoub (Abraham “Abe” Weissman, Midge’s father). The series has three seasons and the fourth is on its way.

Friday evening dinner

Another little-known comedy in Latin America that deserves to be considered. Show it traditional Shabbat dinner every Friday by a secular British Jewish family middle class in the north London suburbs. Family Good man It conforms by Jackie (played by Tamsin Greig), her husband Martin (Paul Ritter) and the children of the marriage, Adam (Simon Bird) and Jonny (Tom Rosenthal), who they hate having to go religiously to their parents’ house every Friday, where there is always something wrong.

The series, created by Robert Poppe, lasted six seasons and aired between 2011 and 2020 on Channel 4 from the United Kingdom. Netflix acquired it for its platform but it is not yet in Latin America. I hope that soon I will be able to join the region because it has all the condiments to make you laugh out loud.

MOVIES

Disobedience

This dramatic film released in 2017 tells the story of two Jewish women who have to hide their lesbian romance due to the strict standards of the Orthodox community that prohibit same-sex relationships. Ronit Krushka (interpreted by Rachel Weisz) is a photographer from an Orthodox family who decides to settle in New York to flee the pressures imposed by a religious community that has turned its back on it after a transgression. Upon learning of his father’s death, a community rabbi returns to London to attend the funeral. In the English capital, she meets her ultra-Orthodox friend Be Kuperman (Rachel McAdams), with whom he had a little love story during adolescence.

Esti is married to a rabbi (Alessandro Nivola), who is also friends with Ronit. Both remain rooted in the conservative traditions of Judaism. The reunion of friends bring back the hidden past and rekindle the forbidden attraction between the two. Like Unorthodox and Shtisel, the film shows the taboos of Orthodox communities and their strict restrictions..

Disobedience, led by the Chilean Sebastián Lelio, he was critically acclaimed and he received British Independent Film Awards nominations In the categories of Best British Independent Film, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Rachel Weisz), Best Supporting Actress (Rachel McAdams) and Best Supporting Actor (Alessandro Nivola), which was the winner.

Annie hall

In a list of never-to-be-missed Jewish-themed movies Woody allen and his endearing character Alvy singer. The film begins with him speaking to the camera and thus breaking away from the famous fourth wall. Alvy is a 40-year-old neurotic New York comedian who just broke up. Annie (Diane keaton) left him and he try to understand the reasons for the failure by remembering their relationship.

In this film, considered one of the best in history, Judaism is present in the form of humor on a recurring basis. One of the most famous scenes is the Alvy’s Easter dinner with Annie’s family (upper-class white American Protestants), in which he he can’t help but feel persecuted for the perception he believes his partner’s grandmother has of him because of his Jewish status. For Alvy, the lady sees him as an Orthodox rabbi with a hat and a beard. In this same scene, a parallelism between what looks like a perfect family (Annie’s) with Alvy’s, who is shown at dinner (which could well be Passover) in a typical middle-class jewish house where everyone is shouting and talking at the same time with their mouths full.

Woody Allen also acted as director in this film released in 1977 which won Four Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Diane Keaton) and Best Original Screenplay.

Schindler’s list

One of the most famous films ever made on the Holocaust. Tells the true story of Oskar Schindler (Liam neeson), a German businessman member of the Nazi party who saved thousands of Polish Jews from death in concentration camps hire them to work in his factory in Krakow, putting his own life in danger.

Light plays a very important role here as a meaning of life. The opening scene shows a Jewish family lighting Shabbat candles, as a prelude to the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis against the Jews that the film will show later when the flame begins to burn. In this regard, the director of the film, Steven spielberg, revealed that he had decided to show the film in black and white because for him “The Holocaust was a life without light” and that in his opinion “The symbol of life is color”, so he understood that his work had to be in black and white.

Schindler’s List Obtained seven Oscars in 1993, including Best Picture, Best Director (Spielberg) and Best Adapted Screenplay. Without a doubt, this is a must-see movie for those who want to learn more about the Holocaust through cinema.

Prince of egypt

This animated musical film released in 1998 is ideal for telling the story of Passover to the little ones. Based on Exodus of Moses, follows the life of the Jewish prophet when he was prince of Egypt until the liberation of the Hebrew people from slavery. Directed by Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner and Simon Wells, the film was a box office success, nearly earning $ 220 million in theaters around the world.

The film features the voices of Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sandra Bullock, Steve Martin, among others. Your song, When you believe, won the award for Best Original Song at the 71st Oscars.

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