Luke McWilliams gives his review of the 2020 comedy, Shiva Baby, starring Rachel Sennot and Danny Defarrari.

Directionless young college senior Danielle (Rachel Sennot) hurries away from her sugar daddy Max (Danny Deferrari) to join her parents, Joel (Fred Melamed) and Debbie (Polly Draper) at a Jewish wake (a Shiva). Danielle is quickly prepped by her mother on how to respond to questions about her disorganised personal and professional life. The house is bustling with members of the local extended Jewish community, which includes Max, who turns out to be a former colleague of Danielle’s father.

Based on writer-director Emma Seligman’s 2018 thesis short film, the movie is a representation of Seligman and her experiences. Danielle is studying an unorthodox degree where she can choose her major, which is in stark contrast to the traditional and celebrated choice of her ex-girlfriend, law student Maya (Molly Gordon). Danielle is advised to keep her past ‘dalliance’ with Maya a secret while downplaying her degree, and to use the Shiva as an opportunity to find a suitor and an employment pathway. Unbeknownst to all, Danielle is seeing multiple sugar daddies to establish control and status in her life. Once Max walks into the Shiva, with his powerbroker wife Kim (Dianna Agron) and baby in tow, Danielle’s resemblance of a life starts to crumble.

Verdict: A humorous but relentless exploration of a young person attempting to find independence and control over their own life in the face of familial and cultural expectations. 4.5 stars.

Shiva Baby is playing at Dendy.

• Luke McWilliams | themovieclub.net