Shiva Baby (2020)

Directed by: Emma Seligman | 77 minutes | comedy | Actors: Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Polly Draper, Danny Deferrari, Fred Melamed, Dianna Agron, Jackie Hoffman, Sondra James, Deborah Offner, Vivien Landau, Glynis Bell, Cilda Shaur, Ariel Eliaz, Richard Brundage, Al Choy, Gloria Schnure, Steven Wishman

‘Shiva Baby’ opens with the ‘screw’ in screwball comedy and doesn’t let the viewer out of the hold after that. Although the jokes follow each other in rapid succession, the film is not only a farce of hot air, but there is also a solid layer of drama baked in: relationships and family are a snake pit.

The rather uncomplicated Danielle takes center stage in ‘Shiva Baby’. This student finds herself, once again, in a personal crisis and eventually has to go to a funeral of a relative. Then act like nothing is wrong. After all, every family member or vague relationship asks how you are doing, do you eat well and whether there is a bit of progress, and future, in all the studies you do at your parents’ expense. If this isn’t enough, both her ex-girlfriend Maya and her current sugar daddy Max attend the same funeral.

‘Shiva Baby’ is set almost entirely in one location, the home of the deceased, strongly conveying the claustrophobia of such family gatherings. Even though she wants to escape the suffocating atmosphere, Danielle sometimes literally has no way out. There is always an aunt around the corner who threatens to ask her questions or there is a possible confrontation with her ex or sugar daddy in one of the many rooms of the house. Danielle continues to stumble around like a wounded deer. Why does she hang around? Out of respect for the deceased, her overprotective mother, and maybe just for the free food. In addition, the nervous soundtrack intensifies the claustrophobic family atmosphere in ‘Shiva Baby’. The soundtrack is reminiscent of the shrill and atonal tones in ‘Mother!’ (Darren Aronofsky, 2017), a film that is the antithesis of a comedy. Bold choice that works wonderfully.

In addition, almost everyone acts her / his balls out of the pants. Old hands, including Polly Draper and Fred Melamed (Danielle’s mother and father, respectively), easily take the young ones in their energy. Then, of course, we have Rachel Sennott, who plays Danielle. She’s a hurricane in ‘Shiva Baby’. Sennott is not only an actress but also a stand-up comedian. You notice this in her comic timing and almost unbearable self-mockery. Although the actors shine, this is not only their work, but also that of director Emma Seligman. Seligman makes the most of her film debut. ‘Shiva Baby’ is based on her own short film, which in turn is a condensation of personal experiences. The authenticity is therefore lost.

Nevertheless, the film has its limitations. It sometimes remains extremely small-scale and sometimes looks a bit too much like a Woody Allen and Lena Dunham house party. Still, we should be especially happy with this little fireball comedy and curious about what director Seligman will do next. How does she connect this comic energy with new ideas? Incidentally, Seligman can build on her debut film for this. ‘Shiva Baby’ subtly tackles bourgeois morality and allows love to flourish in all its facets.