In Shiva Baby, the award-winning, critically acclaimed and popular bisexual comedy drama, Danielle, a college student, is faced with a series of awkward encounters at a Shiva, a Jewish gathering during a time of mourning. Amongst overbearing relatives, she is rattled by the appearance of an ex-girlfriend, and her secret sugar daddy, who arrives unexpectedly with his wife and baby.
Adapted from Seligman’s own 2018 short of the same name, Shiva Baby premiered online at the 2020 South by Southwest film festival, while its first public screenings were at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released in theaters and streaming on April 2, 2021. The events of the film take place almost entirely in real time and at one location as Danielle explores her romantic and career prospects under the intense watch of her family, friends, and judgmental neighbors.
Shiva Baby received positive reviews from critics. It was praised for its representation of bisexual and Jewish people, while also described as accessible for people outside those groups, and for effectively conveying anxiety-inducing claustrophobia. Seligman was praised for successfully drawing up tension within the film, especially in her feature directorial debut, and won several awards for her screenplay. The cast and the musical score by Ariel Marx, likened to that of a horror film, were also praised.
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“ Strong performances and satisfying insights.” 97% approval on Rotten Tomatoes.
“ Savagely smart comedy.” The Playlist.
“ Rachel Sennott is a revelation.” The NY Times.
“ Scintillating and outrageously funny.” Flickering Myth.
WHAT: Shiva Baby
Directed: Emma Seligman Starring: Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Danny Deferrari,Fred Melamed, Dianna Agron, Polly Draper
WHERE: Labia Theatre, 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town 8001 OR Labia Home Screen
WHEN: See the Labia Programme HERE OR on Home Screen at a time to suit you
HOW: Booking at Webtickets OR Register To Watch Online Now
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WHERE: Labia Theatre 68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town 8001
INFO: T +27(0)214245927 | Visit
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