All Screenings: Pre-recorded post-screening Q&A with director Emma Seligman and star Rachel Sennott, moderated by actor/comedian Whitmer Thomas (THE CIVIL DEAD)
Near college graduate Danielle (Rachel Sennott) 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 their 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.
See also: BOTTOMS (opens Fri, Sep 1)
“[Director Emma] Seligman packs so many awkward interactions into SHIVA BABY that it never feels like it runs out of comic potential. Sennott's performance is equally impressive.” —Monica Castillo, rogerrbert.com “Less of a coming-of-age story than a ‘I came of age, now what?’ story...SHIVA BABY is an assured and impressively choreographed debut that gets funnier with every new complication.” —Katie Rife, A.V. Club “As simple in its set-up as it is complex in its interpersonal dynamics and the execution of its masterclass-level comedy, with her debut feature it is clear that for Seligman this is just the beginning of a promising filmmaking career.” —Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Alliance of Women Journalists “For many young women, trying to be nice girls with secure careers ahead of them while also trying to be independent young women with liberated sexualities can be insanity inducing. I hope young women are able to watch this and feel seen in their insecurities and recognized for putting up with the contradicting and suffocating pressures put upon them. I hope they are able to find some humor and relief in this story.” —SHIVA BABY director Emma Seligman, 2020 SXSW Film Festival
