"The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem" is great drama and great history
"The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem" is great drama and great history
"The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem" is great drama and great history
On one level, the saga of a Sephardic Jewish family. On another, Israel 101.
Jeffrey Salkin
August 8, 2023
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What is your favorite Israeli export?
For many people, it was Jaffa oranges. Then, it was Teva shoes and hummus. And, of course, in recent years, it became various high-tech and medical miracles, emanating from “start up nation.”
Those are all great.
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As for me — give me one of the best known, yet least heralded, Israeli products — television.
Yes, of course — “Fauda” on Netflix. But, also, Israeli shows that were adapted for American television — HBO’s “In Treatment” (which started as “Betipul”) and a show that became my singular obsession — Showtime’s “Your Honor,” starring Bryan Cranston as a morally-conflicted judge, which was adapted from the Israeli series “Kvodo.”
Which brings me to my latest binge-fest — “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem,” now appearing in Season 2 on Netflix. It is a family drama — as was the popular “Shtisel,” about hareidi Jews in Jerusalem (which shares a star, Michael Aloni, with “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem”). In some ways, the beautiful, underrated “Srugim,” was about a family of friends — a group of religious Zionist singles in Jerusalem.
“The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem” spans the 1920s to the 1940s. It is the story of the Ermoza family, a Sephardic clan in Jerusalem that owns a “delicatess” — their struggles, triumphs, and despair.
The current season focuses on the professional and personal struggles and aspirations of Luna, the eponymous beauty queen, who is well on her way to becoming a fashion designer.
Why do you need to watch this series?
Warning: spoiler alerts to follow.
First, this is a story about desire. It is hard to think of another television series that contains as many desires: fulfilled, unfulfilled, unrequited, healthy, and forbidden; lust, love, longing, ambition, anger, and revenge. (OK, maybe another family drama — “Succession”).
Second, this is a story about gender. It focuses on strong women. The mother, Roza, suffers silently — or, so it only appears. Luna becomes a smart businesswoman. Stephanie, the Mandatory British officer’s wife, starts as obnoxious, and becomes loving and protective. Luna’s sister, Rachelika, invents takeout.
One woman character stands out, and that is Mercada, the matriarch.
In the first season, she is over-functioning, hyper-managerial, and manipulative.
In this season, she grows and changes, and reveals herself to be a “lioness of Judah,” with only one goal — to protect her family. I “know” her, from my own family of origin. With every episode, my admiration and even affection for her grew.
"The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem" is great drama and great history
On one level, the saga of a Sephardic Jewish family. On another, Israel 101.
Jeffrey Salkin
August 8, 2023
Link copied!
0
What is your favorite Israeli export?
For many people, it was Jaffa oranges. Then, it was Teva shoes and hummus. And, of course, in recent years, it became various high-tech and medical miracles, emanating from “start up nation.”
Those are all great.
AdChoicesSponsored
As for me — give me one of the best known, yet least heralded, Israeli products — television.
Yes, of course — “Fauda” on Netflix. But, also, Israeli shows that were adapted for American television — HBO’s “In Treatment” (which started as “Betipul”) and a show that became my singular obsession — Showtime’s “Your Honor,” starring Bryan Cranston as a morally-conflicted judge, which was adapted from the Israeli series “Kvodo.”
Which brings me to my latest binge-fest — “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem,” now appearing in Season 2 on Netflix. It is a family drama — as was the popular “Shtisel,” about hareidi Jews in Jerusalem (which shares a star, Michael Aloni, with “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem”). In some ways, the beautiful, underrated “Srugim,” was about a family of friends — a group of religious Zionist singles in Jerusalem.
“The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem” spans the 1920s to the 1940s. It is the story of the Ermoza family, a Sephardic clan in Jerusalem that owns a “delicatess” — their struggles, triumphs, and despair.
The current season focuses on the professional and personal struggles and aspirations of Luna, the eponymous beauty queen, who is well on her way to becoming a fashion designer.
Why do you need to watch this series?
Warning: spoiler alerts to follow.
First, this is a story about desire. It is hard to think of another television series that contains as many desires: fulfilled, unfulfilled, unrequited, healthy, and forbidden; lust, love, longing, ambition, anger, and revenge. (OK, maybe another family drama — “Succession”).
Second, this is a story about gender. It focuses on strong women. The mother, Roza, suffers silently — or, so it only appears. Luna becomes a smart businesswoman. Stephanie, the Mandatory British officer’s wife, starts as obnoxious, and becomes loving and protective. Luna’s sister, Rachelika, invents takeout.
One woman character stands out, and that is Mercada, the matriarch.
In the first season, she is over-functioning, hyper-managerial, and manipulative.
In this season, she grows and changes, and reveals herself to be a “lioness of Judah,” with only one goal — to protect her family. I “know” her, from my own family of origin. With every episode, my admiration and even affection for her grew.
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