By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.7 cats
Director: Emma Seligman
Starring: Danny DeFerrari | Dianna Agron | Fred Melamed | Jackie Hoffman | Molly Gordon | Polly Draper | Rachel Sennott
Country: united_states
Year: 2021
Running time: 77
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11317142
Chris says: “Snappy cringe-com feature debut from filmmaker Emma Seligman with a near-perfect ensemble (esp. Fred Melamed and Polly Draper as the lead’s parents), along with a pressure-cooker environment and score both somewhat reminiscent of MOTHER! (thankfully, no one eats the baby here.) 4.5 cats”
Bob says: “Danielle is about to graduate college, and really isn’t clear about what she’s going to do next. Questions about her plans are bound to come up when she has to get together with her parents (the marvelously bickering pair of Polly Draper and Fred Melamed) and people she’s known since she was a kid to sit shiva after the funeral of a family acquaintance.
“Of course Maya, the girl she went to prom with and who still carries a torch for her (scandalous!) is there. What she doesn’t expect is that her sugar daddy (one of them, anyway) is also there. Nor does she expect the revelations she learns about him: he’s married (to a shiksa!) and they have a kid. (Oy!)
“Everything comes together in the crowded, claustrophobic space of a small house in (apparently) Flatbush. It’s discomfort piled on top of more discomfort. It’s a discomfort buffet, and there’s more in the kitchen in case they run low.”
Michael says: “It’s always great to watch a smart, snappy, and funny film where you don’t expect a whole lot, and you end up getting something very special. The film centers on Danielle, a college grad who’s basically trying to figure out her next move. What she’s really doing is spinning her wheels, sleeping with Max, her a sugar daddy to make ends meet. He thinks she’s in law school, her mother things she’s making money baby sitting. When Rachel’s parents insist she join them for the Shiva of… (who was it that died?) she also gets a lot of pressure to circulate, find a man, tell people she’s got things lined up, but most of all… stay away from Maya. Who’s Maya? Well, she just happens to be Danielle’s high school girl friend who is going to law school. Between Maya, neighbors, relatives and all sorts of assorted folks asking why she’s so thin, if she’s found a boyfriend yet, what are her plans, Danielle just wants to get out of there, but then who should arrive but Max, along with his successful shiksa wife, and their colicky toddler, who Danielle is finding out about for the first time.
“Writer/Director Emma Seligman nails the Jewish stereotypes down with perfection, the food, the make-up, the claustrophobic feel of the shiva as Danielle navigates through the home trying to avoid various people. Nearly everything that comes out of Danielle is a lie; it’s so second nature to her that she even lies about things she doesn’t have to… and that only digs her deeper and deeper into this cyclical spiral of shame. The cast is perfect. Rachel Sennott (Danielle) and Danny DeFerrari (Maya) are perfect foils for each other. Danielle is such a mess, but she’s a lovable mess and you can’t help but feel for her. Maya may be the only honest person in the room… she has no need to lie, but you do have to get by her attitude first. Polly Draper and Fred Melamed are delightful as Danielle’s parents, and the rest of the Shiva attendees add so much color and personality to the activities, you kind of want to follow each of them through their own storylines, but Seligman keeps the camera moving as Danielle threads her way through the party. It was delightful to see Dianna Agron (Quinn, from ‘Glee’) as Max’s wife, who is no dummy, and catches on pretty quickly to what might be going on. The film ends in one of the most absurd ways imaginable, that you can’t help but laugh while you groan. So much fun… lost of potential noms. 4 1/2 cats”
Diane says: “5 cats from me, and a nom for Ensemble Cast, down to every last one-line actor. I watched this twice since I didn’t pick up on a couple things off the bat the first time–and it’s only 77 minutes!–and enjoyed it even more the second time. As a matter of fact, I would like to watch it again right now.”
Jeff says: “Excruciating and lacerating and really funny.”
Julie says: “Wow that was nothing like I thought it was going to be. I loved it! Very funny and not at all cliche as I thought it it would be in depicting us Jews. Geoff Pike put it aptly ‘excruciating and lacerating and really funny’ in his description…
“4.75 cats. Ensemble cast nom comes to mind for this one. And the story is very well done.”