It is the modern Jewish version of "Nora's Exodus", and it is also another excellent interpretation of the eternal proposition of human beings "freedom".
The whole is very good-looking. The narrative and performance allow audiences from completely different cultural backgrounds to feel the various inner activities that Esty faces when he escapes to a new environment: starting from liberating his body in the sunset when he first arrived, he is cramped but bravely explores and expands. The boundaries of the self are real and moving, and there are tears in every episode.
Berlin has once again become a symbol of "freedom", not only the tolerance of different groups of people, sexual openness and artistic diversity, but also a metaphor: the millions of people represented by Esty are controlled by structural violence and traditional culture For women, what they really want is the freedom of their own lives, and this desire knows no borders. The awakening process will be long and painful, but this show is a motivator.
I had also heard about Orthodox Judaism in the month and a half I spent in Jerusalem. They wear formal attire and hats on hot days, live in gated communities, and vehemently oppose rest day work and the annual pride parade by force. But the show doesn't go overboard on the "exotic" religious culture of the Orthodox community (but enough to satisfy the curiosity of us viewers), instead focusing on stories with universal sensibilities.
I really like the portrayal of Esty's husband Yanky in this show, which is flesh and blood. In the end, he cried and cut his hair in confusion and anxiety, which may reflect that he is also one of the victims of the closed loop of structural oppression. Although he is a man who enjoys all kinds of rights, when faced with the other half trying to break away the norms, he is helpless. As a member of the defense of religion, his inability to provide Esty with a new vision of life, and his inability to make himself happy, makes this short drama all the more thought-provoking.
The ending is just right. Could Esty ever get a scholarship for her sudden awakening of singing talent? Where will her child go? I was rather relieved. Life in the future will never be easy, but as she herself said before, "Now I need to find my own path." After fear, pain and frustration, she is truly free.
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