Shiva Baby (2021) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place primarily in Sheila's house, which serves as the gathering space for a Jewish shiva (mourning period). The house is filled with relatives from the local Jewish community, creating an intimate setting where family traditions and expectations collide with Danielle's personal chaos.

• shiva
• jewish funeral
• setting
• house
• family gathering

Shiva Baby is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern relationships and social dynamics within a cultural context. The story captures current-era anxieties around identity, dating, and family expectations.

• contemporary
• modern
• time period
• setting

Identity and self-perception is a central theme as Danielle confronts intrusive questions about her life during the shiva. Her struggle to define herself outside of societal expectations and familial comparisons portrays the ongoing conflict many face in establishing personal identity amid external judgments.

• identity
• self-perception
• expectations
• society

Love and longing drive the emotional core as Danielle grapples with complicated feelings for her sugar daddy Max and rekindled emotions for her ex-girlfriend Maya. These romantic entanglements highlight emotional vulnerability, desire, and the challenges of expressing true feelings amidst external pressures.

• love
• longing
• relationships
• romance
• max
• maya

Jealousy emerges primarily through Danielle's interactions with Kim, Max's wife. As Danielle navigates her feelings toward Max and his family, the rivalry with Kim becomes palpable, illustrating how insecurity influences personal relationships and creates rifts between individuals comparing life choices.

• jealousy
• kim
• rivalry
• insecurity
• max's wife

Danielle is a college senior portrayed by Rachel Sennott who finds herself tangled in complex relationships, dealing with the emotional fallout of her connection to her sugar daddy Max and rekindled feelings for her ex-girlfriend Maya. She navigates feelings of jealousy and insecurity while caught between family expectations and her own chaotic life choices.

• danielle
• rachel sennott
• protagonist
• college student

Max is Danielle's sugar daddy and a former colleague of her father Joel. As a married man, his arrival at the shiva triggers intense tension, embodying the complication of Danielle's romantic life and challenging her understanding of love and commitment.

• max
• sugar daddy
• married
• joel
• danielle's father

Maya is Danielle's high-achieving ex-girlfriend, portrayed by Molly Gordon. Her presence at the shiva brings past feelings to the surface as both women navigate their unfulfilled desires and the complexities of moving on, embodying personal growth and the struggle for authenticity in relationships.

• maya
• ex-girlfriend
• ex
• past relationship
• danielle

Kim is Max's non-Jewish wife who unwittingly becomes a rival for Danielle's affections. Her seemingly idyllic role contrasts with the underlying complexities of their intertwined relationships, sparking jealousy and tension as Danielle grapples with insecurities about her own life choices.

• kim
• max's wife
• rival
• jealousy
• non-jewish

Danielle's parents Joel and Debbie represent the pressure of parental expectations. Her father Joel's relationship with Max (his former colleague) adds layers to the family dynamic, while her mother Debbie's expectations exacerbate Danielle's anxiety about her life choices, highlighting generational gaps in understanding personal fulfillment.

• parents
• joel
• debbie
• family
• expectations
• generational

Shiva Baby uses the traditional Jewish shiva (seven-day mourning period) as its setting, bringing together relatives from the local Jewish community. This cultural backdrop highlights family traditions and familial ties, making the house both a place of celebration and confrontation where Danielle must face uncomfortable truths.

• jewish
• shiva
• tradition
• mourning
• community
• cultural