Shiva Baby (2020)
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Country:
USA
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Duration:
77 min
- Program:
- Type:
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Genre:
comedy
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Director:
Emma Seligman
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Producer:
Kieran Altmann, Katie Schiller
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Cast:
Rachel Sennott, Molly Gordon, Dianna Agron, Danny Deferrari, Polly Draper
About film
This is simply one of the best films of late, and definitely one of the most underrated, at least in Russia (it has already been declared an indie hit at Letterboxd, the main website for movie fans). It was translated into Russian as Shalom, Daddy — but don’t be intimidated by this purposeful localization. Emma Seligman, for whom this film became her directorial debut, managed to fill her script and its screen adaptation with such disparate and controversial themes as Jewish traditions (especially when it comes to rituals), female bisexuality, relationships that involve financial aid (simply put, being a mistress with allowance), family values (or valuelessness), and so forth. College senior Danielle goes from a date with her sugar daddy straight to a shiva for her relative, where she meets her painfully beloved extended family and her lover. The latter hides his financial and personal relationships with her because he has a family — a wonderful wife and even a child. It is perhaps one of the wittiest films exploring sex that came out in the last few years — and one of the most enjoyable Jewish films of late.
Rewards and nominations
- Indie Memphis Film Festival 2020 — Best Narrative Feature Film
- L.A. Outfest 2020 — Outstanding Screenplay in a US Feature Film
- Adelaide Film Festival 2020 — Audience Award Best Feature
- ReFrame 2021 (Canada) — Narrative & Animated Feature
- Bruin Film Society Awards 2021 (USA) — Best Actress; nominee: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Original Score/Soundtrack, Best Ensemble, BFS Bridges Award Outstanding Achievement in Independent Filmmaking from a First Time Director
- Hollywood Critics Association 2021 — nominee: Best Actress, Best Picture, Best Filmmaker
Director
Emma Seligman is a Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer. In 2018, she decided to make her thesis film at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts about a sci-fi dystopia, didn’t understand a word of it, and began writing about herself. That is how the short film Shiva Baby (2018) was born, followed by a feature sister film by the same name. Her heroine, the bisexual Jewish young woman, has already conquered film festivals in Toronto and Miami. Honest and queer cinematic language and exploration of taboo themes have brought Seligman the title of one of the most promising up-and-coming directors.
Along with
- Category:
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Speaker:
Shmulik Kuperman, Ksenia Chudinova
Along with
- Category:
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Speaker:
Shmulik Kuperman, Ksenia Chudinova
Trailer
Director
Emma Seligman is a Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer. In 2018, she decided to make her thesis film at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts about a sci-fi dystopia, didn’t understand a word of it, and began writing about herself. That is how the short film Shiva Baby (2018) was born, followed by a feature sister film by the same name. Her heroine, the bisexual Jewish young woman, has already conquered film festivals in Toronto and Miami. Honest and queer cinematic language and exploration of taboo themes have brought Seligman the title of one of the most promising up-and-coming directors.
