In a normal year, without a global pandemic, odds are you would have heard a lot more about “Shiva Baby” last spring. The film was expected to have its official debut at last year’s SXSW, but that event was canceled. However, the film was still screened for critics and a groundswell of support for Emma Seligman’s comedy began to form, leading to a ton of anticipation when the film was finally screened at fall events. Now, a year after its original slated debut, the film made the rounds of fall festivals and is finally getting a release.
As seen in the trailer for “Shiva Baby,” Seligman’s film tells the story of a young woman that has to meet her parents at a family shiva. Of course, like any family event, the awkwardness grows as Danielle has to navigate the typical questions that young, college-aged people are asked. Except things get even more cringe as Danielle’s Sugar Daddy and his wife show up to the event.
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The cast includes Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Diana Agron, Danny Deferrari, Polly Draper, and Fred Melamed. As mentioned, “Shiva Baby” is written and directed by Emma Seligman and was one of the biggest festival darlings from last year.
In our review as part of last year’s COVID-impacted SXSW, we said, “All in all, ‘Shiva Baby’ is a savagely smart comedy that dives deep into excruciating embarrassment. It’s a marvel and will pull you to the end of your seat, biting your nails in second-hand cringe. Then, Seligmann rewards us and her harried heroine with an ending that is perfectly suited, outrageous, and boldly sweet.”
READ MORE: Emma Seligman On ‘Shiva Baby,’ Claustrophobic Filmmaking & The Coen Brothers [Interview]
“Shiva Bab” arrives in select theaters and VOD on April 2. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
A near college graduate, Danielle, gets paid by her sugar daddy and rushes to meet her neurotic parents at a family shiva. Upon arrival, she is accosted by various estranged relatives about her appearance and lack of post-grad plans, while her confident ex-girlfriend, Maya, is applauded by everyone for getting into law school. Danielle’s day takes an unexpected turn when her sugar daddy, Max, arrives at the shiva with his accomplished wife, Kim, and crying baby. As the day unfolds, Danielle struggles to keep up different versions of herself, fend off pressures from her family and confront her insecurities without completely losing it.
