IZZY Review: Nuchem and Libi Shtisel Return in Entertaining Prequel ‘Kugel’

Any great story is bound to leave viewers wanting for more, and in the case of the popular Israeli drama series Shtisel, it’s been almost four years since the third season premiered on Netflix in the United States. Fortunately, there’s more to the tale of this ultra-Orthodox family living in Jerusalem, rewinding back to before the arrival of Nuchem (Sasson Gabai) and his daughter Libi (Hadas Yaron) when they were still living in Antwerp, each pushing boundaries in their own ways within the confines of their very religious lifestyle.

Nuchem works as a jewelry dealer with a habit of showing up after the death of prominent men to present their widows with a valuable present he claims they had ordered with the intention to give without having paid for it. He’s desperate to be perceived as successful and will do whatever it takes to get there, even at the expense of his relationship with his wife Yides (Mili Avital). Their daughter Libi yearns to be a writer but is having trouble making inroads anywhere, and she’s also far behind on another milestone most women in the community her age have already achieved – finding a husband.

The status of this show as a prequel is an intriguing contradiction since there’s still plenty of opportunity for fresh storytelling, even if loyal audiences are already aware of what awaits Nuchem and Libi in the future once they come to Israel. Yides in particular is a fresh find, and the journey that they’re on together is full of unexpected developments and ill-advised choices. Having seen the original series is not at all critical to getting into this show, which is capable of existing fully on its own, even if those in the know may enjoy reminders of the characters they already know well.

Setting this series in Belgium creates a distinctive vibe, one that finds these characters operating mostly within a religious society that’s also located in the heart of a European city. Nuchem rides his bike from place to place and Libi takes the bus, giving them the opportunity for brief encounters with secular individuals that rarely lead to any conversation at all. Nuchem, Yides, and Libi are enmeshed in their world and wouldn’t dream of venturing out beyond it, even if they do everything they can to make an impact within the confines of a system that doesn’t always afford them an easy path to accomplishing all that they want.

Gabai is a veteran Israeli actor whose films include The Band’s Visit, Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem, and Bliss, and it’s great fun to see him in this role. Nuchem at times certainly seems unscrupulous but does have his heart in the right place, and one of the greatest passions he has is for the food that serves as this show’s title, eagerly craving the burnt bottom of the baked delicacy. Avital, who has worked consistently in both American and Israeli film and television for decades, is a great grounded foil for him who gives Yides a great deal of personality that she’s repressed for years. Yaron, recently seen in We Were the Lucky Ones, infuses Libi with the true spirit of a dreamer who’s willing to put in the work to do what she wants, especially when it’s not a path typically taken by women like her.

It’s refreshing to see a lived-in depiction of a deeply religious community that doesn’t seek to question the validity of its existence or its rules but rather to find a way to challenge and live within them. Following hopeful romances may lead nowhere given that Nuchem and Libi eventually do leave Antwerp behind, but this is a perfectly lovely and very engaging detour on the way, giving audiences a peek into the backstories of these well-written characters and shining a light on this remarkable world of observant Belgian Jewry. It’s consistently entertaining and at times dramatically poignant, very representative of the ups and downs of life for anyone living in this world.

Series Rating: 8/10