Culture Crash: The Debut of “Shiva Baby”

In the onslaught of streaming options, there has never been more content at our fingertips. But I’ve also found, it’s never been easier to stick to what you know. With new miniseries starring big celebrities like Reese Witherspoon or Kate Winslet coming out all the time, as well as straight-to-streaming options from the Coen brothers, Martin Scorsese, Barry Jenkins and more, it can be harder for fresh voices to be heard in the crowd.

One of those fresh voices that has recently caught my attention is that of writer/director Emma Seligman. Her debut film Shiva Baby tells the story of a college student’s afternoon from hell, as she attends a Jewish funeral where she must balance her ex-girlfriend and her secret sugar daddy, while trying to seem like she has it all together to impress her parents and their friends.

Think of it as the cringe comedy from The Office crossed with the anxiety of Uncut Gems. At just an hour and 17 minutes, Shiva Baby packs a punch that definitely outsizes its runtime, and a lot of that rides on the shoulders of another newcomer who has a promising career ahead of her in actress Rachel Sennott, who delivers a hilarious, nerve-wracking, pitch-perfect performance.

If you’re looking for a fun movie made for adults, Shiva Baby is now streaming on HBO Max and is available on VOD. As a bonus, you can say you knew of Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott way back when.