‘Shiva Baby’ Movie Update and Preview

A Dark Comedy About the Family You Love to Hate, Coming to DVD and Blu-ray November 2021

Go on a journey with a young misunderstood woman, desperately trying to balance family expectations, a secret relationship and a tricky ex, while trying to pay respects to the dead.

Shiva Baby, written and directed by Emma Seligman, was her directorial debut in 2020 and will be on Blu-ray and DVD beginning November 22, 2021.

Shiva Baby Movie Update And PreviewThis dark comedy is a very personal piece, based on a short film created by Seligman for her varsity thesis in 2018. It’s full of enjoyable chaos as we follow the story of Danielle (Rachel Sennott), who is struggling with the strongholds of family tradition and wanting to be independent as a young bisexual Jewish woman. Her parents are supportive but strict and her academics are not up to scratch. College graduation is a moment away but she finds herself caught up in an embarrassing reality at a family shiva (a day of mourning in the Jewish faith).

Throw in a successful ex-girlfriend who shows up, played by Molly Gordon, and sugar daddy Max (Danny Deferrari), and you have the perfect formula for comedic genius. Actor-comedian Rachel Sennott is brilliant in her lead performance and the film also stars Polly Draper (Billions, The Good Wife), Fred Melamed (A Serious Man) and Dianna Agron (I Love You, Glee) as the wife of Max with a screaming baby. What the film gets right is not just the comedic element but also the storytelling about what it means to be part of a close family and community and how it can be bitter sweet. They provide comfort and happiness just like online Bingo NZ games, but they can also be a source of endless torment!

Shiva Baby premiered online at the 2020 South by Southwest film festival and the first public screenings were at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival. The film takes place at one location as Danielle tries to make sense of her love life and career, with nowhere to hide from friends, family and neighbors. This debut makes bold choices and is truly hilarious. It was critically well received, winning many awards for the screenplay.

Ariel Marx created an eerie musical landscape for the story which really is just one hilarious disaster after another. Everything from spilled drinks to crying babies and the relentless family advice given in-between, builds a wonderful tension. The audience is constantly on edge but in a good way.

First Screening

Official Selection, 2020 Toronto International Film Festival

Cast

Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Danny Deferrari, Polly Draper, Fred Melamed, Dianna Agron, Jackie Hoffman, Cilda Shaur, Glynis Bell, Sondra James, Deborah Offner, Vivien Landau, Ariel Eliaz

Reviews

As a team, Seligman and Sennott share a spot-on sense of comedic timing … – Monica Castillo

Writer-director Emma Seligman’s debut about a young woman running into her sugar daddy at a family event is an amusing, transparently personal piece – The Guardian

Bonus features on Blu-ray

  • Region A Blu-ray
  • Audio commentary with writer-director Emma Seligman and cast
  • Q&A with Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott and moderator Rachel Handler
  • Official trailer
  • Red band trailer

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