Shiva Baby

Dani and Max have sex before the shiva observance, a moment that foreshadows the tangled web of desire and obligation surrounding them. The act highlights the secretive, transactional nature of their arrangement. It also sets a tone of guilt and risk that permeates the night.

Debbie tries to prepare Dani for awkward questions about her life at Aunt Sheila's house. She warns that Maya will be present, signaling potential friction. The scene underscores the pressure to present a neat facade to the community.

Inside the house, members of the local Jewish community contrast Dani with Maya, who is beloved and headed to law school. Dani feels scrutinized as she struggles to eat, moving from piling her plate to scraping it off. The comparison deepens her sense of inadequacy.

Max shows up and Debbie introduces him to Dani, hoping one of his relatives might hire her. The introduction blends personal and financial stakes and hints at the power dynamics at play. The moment foreshadows the ongoing overlap of family, money, and desire.

Debbie warns Dani that Max is off-limits since he is married to Kim. The warning sharpens the secrecy surrounding their relationship and places Dani in a precarious position. The line between family expectations and personal needs becomes clearer and more fraught.

Kim arrives late with their baby Rose after their babysitter cancels. Her entrance heightens the complexities of Max's life and how it intersects with Dani's arrangement. The baby adds emotional stakes to the already tense dynamic.

Dani hurts her leg and retreats to the bathroom to clean up, where she secretly sends a topless photo to Max. The moment reveals Dani's willingness to push boundaries for connection and the risk of exposure in a crowded gathering. It increases the urgency of keeping secrets hidden from Kim and the others.

Downstairs, Dani struggles to look away from Max and his world; Maya flirts with Dani, prompting Debbie to pull Dani away and reprimand her. The flirtation intensifies the competing loyalties Dani feels toward Maya and Max. The moment heightens the tension between desire and propriety.

Debbie escorts Dani to meet Kim and reveals that Dani has been getting deposits under the pretense of babysitting. Kim, the breadwinner, is unknowingly funding Dani’s arrangement with Max. Kim notices Dani wearing the same expensive bracelet Max gave her, sparking suspicion about the relationship.

Max suddenly receives all the photos Dani sent, and in a rush, he drops his phone and spills coffee on Dani. Dani’s mom helps wash her and tries to calm her nerves as the social fabric of the gathering starts to fray. The incident marks a turning point where maintenance of secrets becomes untenable.

The guests gather to say Kaddish, and Rose's screams echo through the room as Kim takes her away. The moment infuses the night with spiritual gravity while the underlying tensions remain unresolved. The ritual underscores the fracture between tradition and the characters’ messy lives.

Kim, Max, Maya, and Maya's mom prepare to leave in Joel's van, with Rose shrieking as Joel fumbles for his keys. Dani and Maya share a quiet, hopeful moment amid the chaos, hinting at a complicated but possible connection beyond the night. The gathering disperses, leaving a sense of unresolved longing in its wake.