Mothers’ talking about vibrators is not usual conversation for a wake/shiva but Shiva Baby is not your average coming of age film. In the very new, very hectic and very claustrophobic “trashy” trailer, our protagonist Danielle (Rachel Sennott) is navigating this shiva, seeing her sugar daddy, a past girlfriend, her mother’s mild bi-phobia, and lots and lots of yelling.
The official synopsis is as follows:
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.
Writer and director Emma Seligman adapted this film festival darling from a film school short film she made. Dianna Agron (Glee) pops up as Danielle’s sugar daddy’s wife, complicating matters and bringing Danielle a different kind of grief at the shiva. Molly Gordon (Booksmart), Fred Melamed (Wandavision, In A World…), Polly Draper (Obvious Child), and Jackie Hoffman (Feud: Bette and Joan) also star.
Shiva Baby streams On Demand and in theaters April 2nd.
