Sorry, Baby (2025) by Eva Victor: A Comedic and Tender Look at Trauma
- dailyentertainment95
- Aug 4, 2025
- 8 min read
Short Summary: The Aftermath of a "Bad Thing"
Sorry, Baby is an American independent black comedy-drama film that marks the feature debut of writer, director, and star Eva Victor. The film tells the story of Agnes, a literature professor at a New England college who is struggling to move forward after being sexually assaulted by her former professor and mentor. Through a nonlinear and darkly comedic lens, the film explores how trauma can halt a person's life, and how they find a path to healing and hope with the help of a supportive community and the resilience of the human spirit.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32843349/
About movie: https://a24films.com/films/sorry-baby
Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/sorry-baby (US), https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/sorry-baby (Canada)
Detailed Summary: A Life Stalled by Trauma
The film, told in five non-chronological chapters, opens with Agnes as a professor, seemingly at a standstill in the same town where she completed her graduate studies.
We see her close relationship with her best friend, Lydie, who has moved on with her life and is now pregnant, a milestone that prompts Agnes to reflect on how "stuck" she has been.
The film then flashes back to Agnes's time in grad school, where she is sexually assaulted by her professor, Preston Decker, a man she deeply admired.
We witness the frustrating and often ridiculous aftermath of the assault, as Agnes navigates a cold and unhelpful disciplinary board and an insensitive doctor.
The narrative highlights how the trauma has seeped into every aspect of her life, from her professional aspirations to her personal relationships, all while she finds small moments of solace, like adopting a stray kitten.
The film concludes with Agnes, after years of grappling with the trauma, finding a sense of peace and hope, even as she acknowledges that the world is a place where "bad things are going to happen."
Director's Vision: The Power of Humor and Nonlinear Storytelling
Eva Victor, in their filmmaking debut, uses their background as a comedian to infuse Sorry, Baby with a unique blend of humor and sensitivity. Their vision was to create a film about post-traumatic dissociation and recovery that is both funny and charming, without ever making light of the central trauma. Victor uses a nonlinear structure to represent the fragmented nature of memory after a traumatic event, showing how the past and present are constantly in conversation. The film is a deliberate character study that gives agency to Agnes, showing her journey of healing without relying on revenge or a simple, happy ending.
Themes: Healing from Trauma, Female Friendship, and Institutional Failure
The Lingering Effects of Trauma: A central theme is how a single traumatic event can alter a person's life and relationships for years to come. The film explores the psychological and emotional weight of trauma, and the difficult, non-linear path to recovery.
The Strength of Female Friendship: The relationship between Agnes and her best friend, Lydie, is the heart of the film. Lydie's unwavering support and understanding are a powerful force, highlighting the importance of community and compassion in the healing process.
Institutional Failure: The film critiques the institutional systems—from the college disciplinary board to the healthcare system—that often fail to support and protect victims of sexual assault. It exposes how these institutions can be more concerned with bureaucracy than with justice.
Key success factors: An Acclaimed Debut, Strong Performances, and a Resonant Story
Eva Victor's Multifaceted Talent: Victor's work as the writer, director, and star of the film is a major success factor. The film's unique voice and perspective are a direct result of their singular creative vision, which has been widely praised by critics.
A Stellar Cast: The film is elevated by its talented cast, including a captivating performance from Naomi Ackie as Lydie and a tender role for Lucas Hedges as a kind neighbor.
The A24 Touch: The film was acquired by A24, a production and distribution company known for its support of unique, director-driven projects. This partnership has helped the film reach a wider audience and solidified its position as a major independent release.
A Timely and Important Subject: The film's exploration of sexual assault and its aftermath resonates deeply with contemporary audiences, contributing to the ongoing conversation about consent, victim support, and accountability.
"Sorry, Baby," released on June 27, 2025, is a poignant black comedy-drama that marks the directorial and screenwriting debut of Eva Victor. Produced by Barry Jenkins' Pastel company, the film stars Victor as Agnes, a graduate student-turned-professor navigating the aftermath of a traumatic event. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2025 and was distributed by A24.
Awards & Nominations: A Sundance Acclaim
"Sorry, Baby" received significant acclaim at its world premiere, earning a prestigious screenwriting award and several other nominations at major festivals.
Sundance Film Festival 2025:
Winner: Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic (Eva Victor).
Nominee: U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize.
Cannes Film Festival 2025:
Official Selection, Directors' Fortnight.
Nominee: Caméra d'Or (for best first feature).
Nominee: Queer Palm.
Seattle International Film Festival 2025:
Official Selection.
Summary: "Sorry, Baby" has been a critical darling on the festival circuit, winning the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance and receiving nominations for the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize, as well as the Caméra d'Or and Queer Palm at Cannes.
Critics' Reception: A Poignant and Groundbreaking Debut
"Sorry, Baby" has been met with universal critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its unique tonal balance and its sensitive, honest portrayal of a survivor's journey. It holds a 97% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metascore of 89 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim."
Jake Coyle from Associated Press called it an "extraordinary debut," and a "disarmingly offbeat new voice" that uses a non-linear structure to place the trauma in a reshuffled context. Coyle wrote, "The first thing to love about writer-director-star Eva Victor's extraordinary debut 'Sorry, Baby' is how she... tries, and fails, to hide a tryst with her neighbor."
Adrian Horton of The Guardian praised the film as a "warm, bitingly funny refocus of the trauma plot," and one of the "best, most honest renderings of life after sexual assault that I've seen." Horton highlighted Victor's "deft and refreshing handle on the absurd situations" and her "bristling humor reminiscent of Fleabag."
Rafael Motamayor of IGN called it "one of 2025's best film debuts" and a character study that achieves universality by being "personal and specific." He noted that the film avoids typical trauma narratives, arguing that the only way forward is to "sit with the betrayal of trust" and allow those feelings to run their course.
Heidi Zwicker of the Sundance Film Festival described it as an "aching and tender debut feature" where Victor gives an "endearingly vulnerable and fearlessly honest performance" as her central character.
Summary: "Sorry, Baby" has received near-universal acclaim from critics, including those at AP News, The Guardian, and IGN. It is celebrated for its groundbreaking approach to trauma, which blends a wry sense of humor with a deeply honest and non-linear narrative, as well as for Eva Victor's outstanding performance as both a director and a lead actress.
Reviews: Healing Through Non-Linear Time and Friendship
Reviews detail the film's non-linear narrative, which explores the long and unpredictable journey of healing after a traumatic event.
The Premise: The film centers on Agnes (Eva Victor), an English professor at a New England college. The story is told across five chapters, jumping back and forth in time to show different moments in her life both before and after an assault by her graduate thesis advisor, Professor Decker (Louis Cancelmi). The film deliberately withholds the violent act itself, choosing instead to focus on its aftermath.
The "After" of the "Bad Thing": The central theme is the "slow pace at which healing comes" and how it is "really not linear," as Victor has stated. We first meet Agnes in the "after," when she seems outwardly fine, but is still grappling with the emotional toll of her trauma. Her best friend, Lydie (Naomi Ackie), is a constant source of support, their bond serving as a central pillar of the film.
Humor and Heartbreak: The film is praised for its ability to find humor in painful and absurd situations. Agnes's interactions with insensitive doctors, her jealous colleagues, and a quirky, kind neighbor (Lucas Hedges) are often both funny and heartbreaking.
A "Hug" of a Movie: As Victor has stated in interviews with outlets like PEOPLE, her goal was to make a film that feels "like a hug." The movie is a testament to the power of affirming friendships and the small joys of everyday life. A memorable scene, for example, involves a kind stranger (John Carroll Lynch) who simply listens to Agnes as she has a panic attack, without offering a cliché solution.
A Story of Survival, Not Revenge: "Sorry, Baby" eschews the revenge plotline common in trauma narratives. Instead, it is a story about a character's "sporadic, often absurd healing" and her journey toward "a new sense of normalcy." The film's conclusion, where Agnes speaks to Lydie's newborn baby, is described as a moving moment that reflects both the pain of the world and the enduring hope for a good life.
Summary: "Sorry, Baby" tells the non-linear story of Agnes, a professor dealing with the emotional aftermath of a sexual assault. The film uses a structure that prioritizes her healing journey over the traumatic event itself, blending poignant and often heartbreaking moments with a dry, observational humor. It's a powerful tribute to the healing power of female friendship and the slow, unpredictable path to recovery.
Why to watch this movie: A Fresh and Necessary Perspective
A Unique Cinematic Voice: This is a chance to witness the debut of a major new talent in cinema. Eva Victor's unique perspective, which blends comedy and drama so seamlessly, is a breath of fresh air.
An Honest Portrayal of Trauma: The film offers one of the most realistic and nuanced depictions of navigating trauma in recent memory. It's a powerful and essential story that avoids clichés and easy answers.
A Celebration of Female Friendship: The movie's heart lies in the deep and genuine bond between Agnes and Lydie, a testament to the power of female friendship as a source of healing and strength.
For Fans of Arthouse Comedy-Dramas: If you enjoy films that are thought-provoking, emotionally resonant, and darkly funny, this film is a perfect fit.
Movie Trend: The Comedy of Trauma
Sorry, Baby is a prime example of a growing trend of films that use comedy to explore difficult and traumatic subjects. This subgenre, often referred to as the "comedy of trauma," uses humor not to make light of a serious situation but to portray the messy, unpredictable, and sometimes absurd reality of the healing process. This trend includes films and TV shows that challenge viewers to find levity and hope in the darkest of situations.
Social Trend: The Movement for Survivor Stories
The film directly taps into the social trend of giving survivors a platform to tell their own stories on their own terms. In a post-#MeToo world, there is an increased demand for narratives that focus on the aftermath of sexual assault, highlighting the long-term impact on a person's life and the importance of their voice and agency. Sorry, Baby is a powerful example of this trend, offering a personal and unfiltered perspective that prioritizes the survivor's experience above all else.
Final Verdict: A Flawed but Fun Ride
Sorry, Baby is an essential and deeply affecting film that is both a comedy and a powerful drama. Eva Victor's directorial debut is a triumphant and singular work, showcasing a unique cinematic voice that handles a sensitive subject with grace, honesty, and a surprising amount of humor. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in a fresh, unconventional take on a familiar but important topic, and it firmly establishes Eva Victor as a filmmaker to watch.
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