“The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem,” a period drama that follows a family of Spanish Sephardic Jews residing in Jerusalem throughout the early twentieth century, is now available on Netflix.
The first ten episodes were released on Friday, and a second batch of ten episodes will be available on July 29.
The series, which debuted last summer and won four Israeli TV Academy Awards this year, stars Israeli heartthrob Michael Aloni — of “Shtisel” and “When Heroes Fly” fame — and is based on a book of the same name that was first translated into English in 2016.
It is produced by Israel’s Yes Studios, which also created the Orthodox family drama “Shtisel” and the IDF thriller “Fauda,” and is being billed as one of the most expensive and complex ventures in Israeli television history.
The plot jumps about in time, from the Ottoman Empire to the British Mandate of Palestine, which eventually becomes the state of Israel. The series highlights Judeo-Spanish traditions and covers the dynamics of pre-state Jerusalem, including tensions between its Jewish, Arab, and Christian people — with dialogue in Hebrew, English, Arabic, and even Ladino, which is unusual in Israeli television.
Aloni and other cast members were quick to sign on because of the success and quality of Sarit Yishai-novel, Levi’s they told an audience at a recent event at Temple Emanu-Streicker El’s Center in New York City. Aloni stated that he read the book in less than two days and cried while doing so; Ariel Or, who plays Aloni’s daughter in the programme, claimed to have finished the book in two hours.
The plot revolves around the Armoza family, whose men appear to be cursed to marry women they do not love.
The plot jumps about in time, from the Ottoman Empire to the British Mandate of Palestine, which eventually becomes the state of Israel. The series highlights Judeo-Spanish traditions and covers the dynamics of pre-state Jerusalem, including tensions between its Jewish, Arab, and Christian people — with dialogue in Hebrew, English, Arabic, and even Ladino, which is unusual for Israeli television.
