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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Emma Seligman
USA 2020

 

A near college graduate, Danielle, gets paid by her sugar daddy and rushes to meet her neurotic parents at a family shiva. Upon arrival, she is accosted by various estranged relatives about her appearance and lack of post-grad plans, while her confident ex-girlfriend, Maya, is applauded by everyone for getting into law school. Danielle's day takes an unexpected turn when her sugar daddy, Max, arrives at the shiva with his accomplished wife, Kim, and crying baby. As the day unfolds, Danielle struggles to keep up different versions of herself, fend off pressures from her family and confront her insecurities without completely losing it.

***

In Emma Seligman’s delightfully anxiety-driven comedy “Shiva Baby,” the post-funeral service rites of a Jewish family and friends are interrupted by a chaotic series of one-upmanships and unexpected guests. Based on Seligman’s short of the same name, “Shiva Baby” follows Danielle (Rachel Sennott) on her way to meet her family for the somber occasion after an appointment with her sugar daddy.

Excerpt from Roger Ebert.com located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 2020 (Melbourne International Film Festival)

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Utopia - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Coming to the UK on Blu-ray by MUBI in November 2021:

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Utopia - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:17:24.723        
Video

2.4:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,177,773,748 bytes

Feature: 16,801,082,112 bytes

Video Bitrate: 23.98 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3157 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3157 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Utopia

 

2.4:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,177,773,748 bytes

Feature: 16,801,082,112 bytes

Video Bitrate: 23.98 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

Audio commentary with writer/director Emma Seligman and cast
Q&A with Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott and moderator Rachel Handler (36:00)
Official trailer(1:58)
Red band trailer(1:11)
Double-sided poster
Reversible cover artwork


Blu-ray Release Date: July 27
th,
2021
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 11

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Utopia Blu-ray (July 2021): Utopia have transferred Emma Seligman's Shiva Baby to Blu-ray. It was shot with an Arri Alexa XT Plus camera and looks as clean and crisp as you might expect a modern to film to appear in 1080P. It has a level of high detail notable in the film's close-ups. There is plenty of depth and the HD presentation is, predictably, pristine.

NOTE: We have added 24 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Utopia use a robust DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English language. Shiva Baby has no aggressive moments - mostly a dialogue-driven film with a few separations in the shiva get together. It is as clean and tight as the video with consistent dialogue in the lossless transfer. with a unique score by Ariel Marx (American Horror Stories TV Series - 'Drive In' episode (2021) having done a number of shorts and some documentary work.) Utopia offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Utopia Blu-ray offers a commentary with writer/director Emma Seligman and some of the cast. It has weak audio - almost like over a phone. No one is really introduced and its very laid-back - with them mostly enjoying the film. Discussions include the short made prior to the feature, improvisation, Mike Nichols The Graduate and other details of production including the framing, the claustrophobic aura and specific scenes / lines they appreciated. There are gaps where they are watching the film. It was funny when they talked about a neighbor getting angry with the filming and say "I'm a Gemini and when I flip - I flip!". Also included is a 36-minute Q + A with Emma Seligman, Rachel Sennott and moderator Rachel Handler. We also get the official trailer, a Red band trailer and the package has a double-sided poster and reversible cover artwork.    

Emma Seligman's Shiva Baby has amusing inter-personal conflicts showcasing the superficial behaviors of the family and friends of the Jewish wake adding a stressful situation for Danielle. As the day progresses, her attempted disassociation, breaking the social rules as much as she dare, surfaces with the anxiety realized wonderfully by Seligman. It's a good film that you are unlikely to see outside of a festival or streaming. The Utopia Blu-ray (who also did Selina Miles' "Martha: A Picture Story" that we reviewed) is a very pleasing package and we hope they cover more modest-budgeted, lesser-seen, features in this format. I enjoyed my viewing and there are supplements to indulge in.

Gary Tooze

 


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Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Coming to the UK on Blu-ray by MUBI in November 2021:

Bonus Captures:

Distribution Utopia - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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