Shiva Baby was my favorite movie of 2021. Writer/director Emma Seligman’s microbudget indie about a young bisexual female student who starts spiraling after a surprise encounter with both her ex-GF AND a (male) john she’s been secretly sleeping with WHILE sitting shiva with her family is a dramedy that plays like a cringe horror masterpiece. So why am I recommending it now? Because it stars Rachel Sennott and Molly Gordon, both of whom are making major waves this summer on buzzy television shows (The Idol and The Bear, respectively). Shiva Baby came out during the panny, which meant that it never really got the love that it deserved, but with Seligman’s follow-up Bottoms — a (bigger) budget studio comedy! —landing on screens later this summer, now’s the time to get familiar with this promising young auteur’s vibe.
Photo: Everett Collection
