Shiva Baby (2020)
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A directionless young woman navigates a tense family gathering while juggling the complexities of her secret life and past relationships.
The story
College senior Danielle attends a Jewish holiday celebration with her parents, Joel and Debbie. The gathering includes her successful ex-girlfriend Maya and a man named Max, with whom Danielle has a secret arrangement. As the events unfold in real-time at a single location, Danielle must navigate the scrutiny of her family and the local community while trying to manage her romantic and career prospects. The atmosphere is charged with tension as she deals with the complexities of her identity and the presence of people from her past and present, all while trying to maintain a sense of composure in a claustrophobic environment.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Before a holiday gathering, Danielle has sex with her sugar daddy, Max. At her aunt's house, she is coached by her mother on how to handle questions about her life while being compared to her successful ex-girlfriend, Maya. Max arrives, and Danielle's mother tries to set her up with his wife, Kim. Later, Danielle sends a topless photo to Max, which is eventually seen by others. A confrontation occurs when Maya publicly reveals details of their past relationship. Later, Danielle follows Max into a bathroom, but he refuses her advances. Outside, she and Maya share a passionate kiss. The tension peaks when Danielle's phone is lost, and she panics while others are distracted by food. During the final prayers, a physical altercation occurs over a baby, leading to a breakdown for Danielle. She is comforted by her mother and Maya, and the film ends with the two women holding hands in the back of a van.
- First release year
- 2020
- Runtime (minutes)
- 78
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Emma Seligman
- Writers
- Emma Seligman · writer
- Cast and characters
- Rachel Sennott · Danielle; Molly Gordon · Maya; Polly Draper · Debbie; Fred Melamed · Joel; Danny Deferrari · Max; Dianna Agron · Kim
- Genres
- comedy
- Themes
- bisexuality; Jewish culture; female insecurity; self-worth; family dynamics
- Tone and mood
- anxiety-inducing; claustrophobic
- Premise and plot tags
- coming-of-age; independent; romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- Emma Seligman's 2018 short film of the same name
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics who praised the direction, performances, and representation of Jewish and bisexual culture.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 79 · scale: 100 · review count: 24
- Awards and nominations
- Casting Society of America award · Casting · win; BAFTA Breakthrough US · production design · 2021 · selection
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in 16 days at an Airbnb in Flatbush, Brooklyn.; The score was designed to reflect Klezmer music using strings.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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