Michael Aloni is an Israeli actor who plays Akiva Shtisel, a chasidic man looking for love on “Shtisel,” and an ex-soldier on a risky mission to find his lost friend in “When Heroes Fly.” Both shows received positive reviews and were wildly popular in Israel. They recently became available for an English-speaking audience on Netflix in the United States. (Read a review of “Shtisel” here). He also stars in “Out In The Dark,” a film about a love affair between two Israeli and Palestinian men. The Jewish Week spoke with Aloni by phone to chat about his approach to the roles and how he hopes they can make a social impact. This interview has been edited for length.
Q: In the media, Israeli soldiers are mostly portrayed as tough guys ready for battle. “When Heroes Fly” shows them in a different light — dealing (or not dealing) with their PTSD. Is the hope that the show encourages soldiers to get therapy?
A: [In the show] the four friends are reunited to try to save a loved one and see if she may be alive in Colombia. After ten years of what happened to them in the military, they’re all carrying it with them. They are all suffering with PTSD in different forms. My character keeps it in but it breaks out in the form of cancer… In Israel, when it aired, there was a great reaction. I think it had a wonderful effect in getting people to speak up and tell their story. So while we meant to make a show that was enjoyable for the audience, it had a great side effect.
Q: In the final episode, your character does something heroic, risking his life. Is your character the hero of the show?
A: I think there’s four heroes. It’s a four-headed monster. They’re brothers-in arms. You can’t really separate one from the other. It’s about their power together. You can follow and find a little of yourself in every character?
Q: How did you prepare for “Shtisel?” Did you go to hotel lobbies and watch chasidim on dates?
A: I actually did. I spied. Before we started shooting, we had months of preparation. We had to learn Yiddish. We had a rabbi teach us the prayers and the rules. We also went undercover in Meah Shearim. I stayed with a family there. It was a great experience.
Q: What was the hardest part of the role?
A: I don’t know if there was a hardest part but we wanted to make sure it’s not about looking into those closed gates of a community. It’s a story about humanity and about people. Akiva, my character, has a very poetic soul trying as an artist struggling to put his truth out there. I feel that I am very lucky “Shtisel” has the chance to be on Netflix and people around the world can enjoy it and I can send my truth in a way to the world.
Q: Do you think it has the ability to potentially change people’s views of chasidim?
A: I think it will change a person’s opinion on this community. We are dealing with the same issues It doesn’t matter if you don’t wear the hat or grow payes (sidelocks).
Q: Your payes on the show were real?
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A: I grew them up to a certain length and it’s like a hair extension.
Q: American viewers have mentioned there’s a lot of smoking on the show. Do you think Israelis should try to smoke less or it’s just part of the stress of living there?
A: If you go to Meah Shearim, you’ll understand. For now, if you walk into a restaurant you’ll see people smoking while they are eating inside the restaurant. You’ll see [it] as it was for us 20 years ago. It’s like a time capsule.
Q: What’s the funniest thing that happened on set?
Dov Glickman [who plays Aloni’s TV father in “Shtisel”] is one of the greatest comedians in Israel of all time. To have a scene with him, you’re trying to not choke on your food. We’re basically eating and smoking all the time. Even the most serious scenes we shot. He’d have food on his beard or something and we’d have to do another take and another take.
Q: Akiva is asked to sacrifice his art and not paint so he can get a match. In real life, would you ever date someone who told you not to take a certain role or asked you to sacrifice your art?
My art is my mistress or might be my real wife. I am married to my art. I’m not going to give it up. I don’t see any reason why anyone would have to do that.
Q: Why do you think the world seems to be noticing so many Israeli shows right now?
A: What Netflix is doing is putting good shows on their platform that allow shows to be recognized and be seen in their language. I get followers from America and Hong Kong. The world is becoming smaller.
Q: In “Out In The Dark” you play the role of an Israeli man in love with a Palestinian man. What did that role mean to you and do you think film has the power to change perception, either regarding acceptance of the LGBTQ community or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
A: I had the fun and luck to get a variety of different roles from a chasidic guy to a soldier with PTSD to a love story between an Israeli and Palestinian. Stories and films open people’s hearts and maybe can make them see the world a little bit different. That’s what art does. It sparks something in you and makes you think a little.
Q: How did being in the army impact you?
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A: Israelis don’t think about it. We just do it. When we go to serve, a lot of people at the age of 18 (in other countries) go to university or they travel and it keeps them more in the place of not growing up, of maybe still a kid. We have to grow up quickly.
Q: Do you think soldiers who have served in the army and become actors are better at dealing with getting rejected from parts because of what they’ve experienced?
A: I think it’s different from person to person. I know people who served, and when they audition and don’t get the part they want it can be more devastating than being in a war zone. But you never know [what] will be the most painful.
Q: Did you ever worry that people would focus on your appearance and not take you always as seriously as an actor.
A: Are you implying that I am good looking?
Q: That’s what many are saying.
A: I’ll take it as a compliment. Never thought about it. I think I’ll quote “Zoolander.” I think in the beginning, Ben Stiller says, “Is there anything more to the world except for being very, very, good looking?” I don’t know.
Q: Are there any projects you’d like to do or actors you would want to work with?
A: The Oscars are coming and I saw the best preview show about the renewal of “A Star is Born” is born and I was fascinated by it. [I] would like a very special project like that that for example.
Ed’s Note: An earlier version of the title used the term “chasid” to describe Aloni’s character. It has since been changed to “charedi.” We apologize for the misrepresentation. Chasidim typically adhere to a leader, called a Rebbe, (which the Shtisel family does not) whereas charedi is a term used to describe ultra-orthodox Jews.
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