... acting, writing, directing, casting, cinematography, etc. It starts slow ... first time I tried watching I gave up before the end of Episode 1. But user reviews persuaded me to give it another go. Glad I did. One could write a doctoral dissertation on the many themes of this series: family relationships, orthodoxy vs the individual, how some characters who are like-able (extremely so) do cruel, unthinking things to their kin - for what they think are the best intentions. How intelligent people can do stupid things, etc. I just finished the episode in Season 2 in which - for a truly magical -and sad - few seconds - Kive, on a bus in Jerusalem, looks out the window and sees the snow falling in Antwerp. (The context is clear if you've watched the series, otherwise not). The series is just full of such brilliant little touches. I'm a secular American jew who has never understood the orthodox world; perhaps this series helps me understand better. Perhaps the opposite, if it distorts that world - I have no framework of reference. Or, perhaps like all cultures, it's too big and varied to encapsulate with just one extended family (the Shtisels). It's a refreshing change from many series: no violence, warm, entertaining, sometimes infuriating, sometimes LOL funny. Just great.
Review of Shtisel
