Hagai Levi On His “Contemporary” Holocaust Series ‘Etty’ & Why The International Boycott Of The Israeli Industry Should Be “Much More Selective”

Why It Matters

The series reshapes Holocaust storytelling for modern audiences while Levi’s boycott critique spotlights political pressures threatening Israel’s creative sector.

Key Takeaways

• Contemporary setting redefines Holocaust TV storytelling
• Levi wrote script in English, then translated to German/Dutch
• October 7 attacks intensified series’ relevance to current conflicts
• Israeli film funding threatened by right‑wing government policies
• Levi urges selective boycott, protecting dissenting Israeli creators

Pulse Analysis

Hagai Levi’s "Etty" pushes the boundaries of Holocaust dramatization by refusing a traditional period aesthetic. Set against a sleek, present‑day Amsterdam backdrop, the series mirrors the diary’s timeless emotional core while allowing viewers to see the trauma through a modern lens. This approach aligns with a growing trend of re‑imagining historical events in contemporary settings, offering fresh relevance and inviting audiences to draw parallels between past atrocities and today’s sociopolitical climate.

Production on "Etty" was marked by linguistic ingenuity and geopolitical urgency. Levi drafted the narrative in plain English, then relied on translators to render dialogue into German and Dutch, preserving the diary’s intimate voice while ensuring authenticity. Lead actress Julia Windischbauer immersed herself in Dutch for months, underscoring the project’s commitment to realism. Filming commenced weeks after the October 7 attacks, a timing Levi says compressed the horror of the Holocaust with current conflict imagery, making the series a resonant commentary on collective memory and ongoing violence.

Beyond its artistic ambitions, Levi uses the platform to critique the Israeli film industry’s tightening grip under a right‑wing regime. Funding is increasingly funneled toward politically compliant projects, marginalizing dissenting creators. While global cultural boycotts target institutions linked to alleged apartheid, Levi argues for a nuanced approach that spares the 90% of Israeli artists opposing the government. His call for selective boycotts highlights the delicate balance between political activism and protecting artistic freedom, a debate that will shape cultural diplomacy in the region for years to come.