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The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem: will it be your next Israeli TV addiction?

Shtisel's soulful star Michael Aloni takes on a very different role in this epic historical drama heading for Netflix later in May

May 5, 2022 11:33
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7 min read


Israel’s television executives are adept at creating global hits from tense action thrillers. But the next Israeli drama to come to our screens is the most ambitious yet: a breath-taking saga which takes in the grand sweep of history.

The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem tells the story of four generations of strong women against the backdrop of turbulent times in Jerusalem.

From 1917 to 1942, the series takes in the end of the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate and the establishment of the Jewish state through the eyes of the Sephardi Ermosa family, who all experience their fair share of romance and violent encounters.

It stars Shtisel’s Michael Aloni, swapping prayer for passion. Forget Shtisel’s soulful Akiva, Aloni’s character, the initially optimistic and handsome Gabriel, becomes a haunted man whose only solace is his beautiful daughter Luna, nicknamed “the beauty queen of Jerusalem”.

Adapted from the international bestselling novel by Israeli journalist, Sarit Yishai-Levi, the series aired in Israel in 2021, and won four Ophirs — Israeli Academy Awards. Now it has been taken up by Netflix and streams here on May 20.

The novel moved Aloni to tears, he tells me. “When I first read the book, I cried all the way through. It was such a page turner. I was crying and reading and crying and reading. It’s a beautiful, beautiful piece. Sarit Yishai-Levi did an amazing job.”