Shiva Baby - Film Outline

College student Danielle is faced with a series of awkward encounters at a day-long shiva, a Jewish gathering during a time of mourning. Amongst overbearing relatives, she is rattled by the appearance of an ex-girlfriend and of her secret sugar daddy, who unexpectedly arrives with his wife and baby.

A truly unforgettable debut, Emma Seligman’s acclaimed Shiva Baby finds the sweet spot between distress and hilarity. Led by a commanding performance from Rachel Sennott, the film’s masterful formal construction heightens its darkly comedic, sex positive take on family, religion, and sugar daddies.

As writer, Seligman studs her intricately constructed screenplay with hilarious absurdity and scalpel-sharp one-liners; as director, she frames the mayhem expertly, with one eye always on the bigger picture. The result is an exhilarating and compassionate film about love, death, loneliness – and the life-affirming importance of dessert. (97% rating with Rotten Tomatoes)

The Film Night

Rory and Lola, both cinephiles and supports in film's therapeutic power, are pleased to announce the New Road Film Night, specially curated for counsellors and psychotherapists.

At the core of this initiative lies the convergence of cinema and therapy. The relationship between these two fields dates back to the early 20th century, coinciding with the birth of psychotherapy as a formal discipline and the rise of cinema as a powerful medium of storytelling and expression.

These forays into the psychological and ideological layers of film narratives can inspire us, as therapists, to reflect on the thought-provoking aspects of cinema.

We warmly invite you to embark on this journey with us. The New Road Film Night is a chance for therapists to relax, engage with colleagues, and draw new perspectives from the art of storytelling. Expect great movies illuminating various aspects of human life through the cinematic lens.

We welcome both trainee and graduate counsellors / psychotherapists from both New Road and afar

Event Details:

• Time: Arrive from 5:15 PM onwards; at 5:30 Rory and Lola will give a brief presentation situating the film in its context and in the psychotherapeutic and existential realm.

• Charge: £4 per person

• Set-Up: Bring your own beverages (BYOB) and snacks to make the evening even more enjoyable.

• Venue: New Road Psychotherapy, 8 The Drive, Hove, BN3 3JT

• Numbers: Maximum of 12 people. Book early to avoid dissapontment.

• CPD: CPD Certificate given for attendance

• Discussion: For those wishing to stay for a discussion and share your thoughts with like-minded therapists (30 mins). You can always continue in the pub :)

  Schedule:

  • February 24 (Film Night 1 - Shiva Baby)

  • March 2 (Film Night 2 - TBA):

  • March 9 (Film Night 3 - TBA)

  • March 16 (Film Night 4 - TBA)

  • March 23 (Film Night 5 - TBA)