Shiva Baby

If you have an appetite for a strong dose of laughter and millennial angst, this sharp Jewish comedy of errors is an ideal choice. Big family get-togethers are horror shows in of themselves, and even more so when you attend them in a state of uncertainty about your job, your romantic relationships or your sexual identity (and you definitely do not want to talk about any of this with your second cousin). Emma Seligman manages to capture the oppressive awkwardness of such gatherings with well-observed situations, authentic dialogue and excellent use of the claustrophobic space of a single home, where almost the whole story takes place. Her narratively concentrated and brilliantly paced film is equal to the best episodes of Fleabag in terms of the screenplay and acting (the superb Rachel Sennott plays the lead role) and is directed with such assuredness that I found it to be one of the most promising debuts since Greta Gerwig’s somewhat thematically similar Lady Bird. 80% (05/12/2021)

Well, I have to say, I had higher hopes for this film. Some might argue that Shiva and humor don't mix, but I beg to differ. From personal experience, I know that even funerals can unexpectedly provide fertile ground for humor. Plus, Jewish culture is rich in great, often dark, humor that really hits the spot for me. In my view, the creators missed a golden opportunity here. While there were certainly moments that brought a smile to my face, the overall tone leaned heavily towards drama, and the plot lost its momentum along the way. It's a real shame because I was ready to bump up my rating, but sometimes, filmmakers shouldn't take themselves so seriously and should embrace a lighter touch. / Lesson learned: If you are bi, you're lucky. You have double the chances. (20/02/2022)