Israeli television series take centre stage

GILLIAN KLAWANSKY

They deal with everything from the frontline of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the psychological repercussions of war. They even dabble in the life in Israeli orthodox communities.

Israeli series like Fauda, When Heroes Fly, and Shtisel provide a refreshing alternative to the predominantly American and British shows to which we’ve become accustomed to.

And, with the advent of subscription-based media streaming networks like Netflix and Amazon Prime, more and more Israeli TV series have become available to global audiences.

But it’s not just their intriguing subject matter that sets them apart, it’s also their compelling scripts, cinematography, and stellar acting, directing, and production.

What makes such a small country such a significant player in the global television arena?

“In recent years, the tiny country has produced a remarkable number of international television hits, on par with the United States and United Kingdom,” writes Eliana Lachter on global travel, media, and entertainment site, theculturetrip.com.

“The burgeoning TV industry and rapid production of quality television content has increasingly caught the attention of a global audience. Israel can now boast a string of successes in exporting its home-grown shows to international streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime.”

Good quality shows were already there, streaming services just made them more accessible to wider audiences, says Gus Silber, a social commentator and journalist.

“The fantastic thing about Netflix is that you can discover works that are beyond the Hollywood machine, and Israeli series are among the best,” Silber told the SA Jewish Report. “Israelis have a really active movie and TV industry. It’s an Israeli characteristic that life goes on, technologically and creatively, even amid the tense conditions that they’ve always lived under. Israelis are incredibly creative. That comes across not only in their technological acumen, but also in their ability to produce amazing television. The TV series on Netflix and Amazon Prime are very much a mirror of the absurdities and tensions of Israeli life.”

In an article published in Israeli online news magazine ISRAEL21c, Abigail Klein Leichman examines the reasons behind the global popularity of Israeli series. She says the Israeli TV industry is not afraid to take risks as it is relatively free of the tight constraints that govern which shows get made in the US.

“Just as Israelis, in general, comfortably embrace risk-taking and uncertainty, the Israeli TV-format industry doesn’t hesitate to take a chance on innovative and unusual ideas,” writes Klein Leichman. “This is in contrast to traditionally conservative production industries elsewhere that are more likely to reject a new idea that’s not a sure bet.”

Enter the Netflix-helmed political thriller, Fauda. When it comes to fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action, very few shows rival Fauda – the Arabic word for chaos. Named by the New York Times as the best international show of 2017, Fauda follows the fate of an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) counter terrorism unit, Mista’aravim, known for going undercover and assuming the identity of Palestinians. It’s loosely based on the experience of its co-creators, Lior Raz (who also stars as Doron), and Avi Issacharoff, both of whom served in the IDF’s Duvdevan unit.

“Israeli series come at certain situations from an alternative angle,” says Chai FM entertainment reporter and newsreader, Sasha Star. “Take Fauda, for example. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is portrayed so much in the media. This view is all that the public is generally exposed to. Fauda gives us a behind-the-scenes look. The fact that it’s written by two former IDF soldiers who served in the Duvdevan unit also gives it a sense of authenticity.”

Fauda is also known for its unflinching assessment of both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. No-one has the upper hand when it comes to heartbreak. “Fauda gets to grips with the political and military tensions of Israeli life, uniquely, and the fact that it also presents the Palestinian side of the equation is quite bold and broad-minded,” says Silber.

“Israelis are equally good at broad comedy,” he says. “Israeli sitcom Hashoter Hatov (The Good Cop) is funny, raunchy, and socially bold. What’s so good about these Israeli series is that they’re not afraid to tackle the controversial aspects of living in Israel. This is something other countries often shy away from. For example, The Good Cop is a comedy series, but it touches on the experiences of an Arab Israeli cop, and the discrimination he encounters.”

Israeli TV trends also show a fascination with ultra-orthodox communities. “The hottest TV shows in Israel right now are about the insular Haredim, or ultra-orthodox Jewish communities, whose everyday dramas – albeit fictionalised – are Israeli TV’s latest obsession,” writes Miriam Berger in the GlobalPost. Indeed, it’s the insight into a largely unknown community that viewers find so appealing.

The series, in fact, attracted the attention of Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman, who is adapting the show for American audiences. Her version, Emmis, follows an ultra-orthodox family living in Brooklyn. Speaking to the press about what attracted her to Shtisel, Kauffman said, “It’s a show… where you have to take some time to humanise what is unknown. And that’s the thing I really thought would speak to an American audience.”

Israeli shows have long been fodder for American TV producers looking for alternative subject matter. Perhaps the most famous Israeli TV export is the multi-award-winning Homeland, starring Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin. The deal for the US version was struck before the Israeli original was ever filmed. Homeland was adapted from Israeli series Prisoners of War (Chatufim) whose creator Gideon Raff is an executive producer on Homeland.

“You might not be Jewish, understand Hebrew, or have been to Israel, but the stories are globally relevant,” says Silber. “With Shtisel, for instance, a small community that isolates itself and has arranged marriages will resonate with orthodox Greek and Muslims communities. The shows also have a good ability to tap into the lighter as well as darker side of life, as is the case with Shtisel and Fauda. Israeli shows feel universal.”

There’s a concerted drive to market Israeli shows internationally. “Aside from creating characters anyone can relate to, Israeli producers [like Israeli high-tech entrepreneurs] think internationally in their business models due to Israel’s small domestic market,” writes Klein Leichman. “One example is Keshet, Israel’s biggest production house, which has opened branches in Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong, and Mexico City to sell shows, help create foreign adaptations, and produce original programming overseas.”

 “Israel’s tiny, so Netflix is allowing these Israeli production companies to promote their content to an international audience directly without it having to go through the Hollywood machine,” says Silber. “You no longer have to wait for someone to take a story like Prisoners of War and turn it into Homeland. The power of Netflix is completely changing the rules of the game. With the internet, everything is accessible. It’s a bit of a revolution.”