Sorry Baby (2025) by Eva Victor: A Tender and Timely Portrait of Trauma
- dailyentertainment95
- Aug 18
- 7 min read
Short Summary: A Non-Linear Look at Life After Trauma
Sorry, Baby is the directorial debut of Eva Victor, who also writes and stars in this poignant black comedy-drama. The film follows Agnes, a literature professor, as she grapples with the long-term, non-linear effects of a sexual assault she experienced as a graduate student. The film artfully avoids the typical "trauma plot" and instead focuses on the quieter, more mundane moments of life that are still deeply impacted by a past event. With a blend of dry wit and piercing sincerity, the movie explores the complexities of healing, the importance of friendship, and the flaws of institutions meant to offer support.
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32843349/
Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/sorry-baby (US), https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/sorry-baby (Canada)
Detailed Summary: The Fragments of a Life Interrupted
A Disrupted Present: The film begins in the present, with Agnes as a young professor living a quiet life in rural New England. Her best friend, Lydie, visits, and the juxtaposition of their lives—Lydie's with her new baby and evolving future—highlights Agnes's feeling of being emotionally "stuck."
A Look into the Past: The narrative is non-linear, jumping back and forth through different "years" in Agnes's life. We learn about the "Bad Thing" that happened to her—a sexual assault by her thesis advisor, Professor Preston Decker.
The Aftermath: The film focuses on the aftermath of the assault. We see Agnes struggle with emotional numbness, consider burning down Decker's office, and take in a stray cat. She tries to get help from the college's disciplinary board, but they tell her they can't do anything since Decker has resigned.
Finding Her Way Forward: Over time, Agnes finds small moments of solace and connection. She begins a casual relationship with her neighbor Gavin and has a touching encounter with a kind sandwich shop owner. The film shows her professional growth as she's offered Decker's former office, a moment that triggers a panic attack but also marks a turning point.
A Journey of Healing: The movie’s fragmented structure mirrors the nature of memory and trauma, showing how past events continue to influence the present in unexpected ways. The final scenes show Agnes finding a new sense of peace, even if the road to healing is not complete. She's seen talking to Lydie's baby, offering her an apology for being brought into a world where bad things happen, but also a sense of hope for her future.
Director's Vision: The Gentle Film About Trauma
A Focus on the Aftermath: Eva Victor's core vision for Sorry, Baby was to create a "gentle film about trauma" that doesn't sensationalize the event itself. She wanted to focus on the period after the assault, the "quiet years where you still have to go to work surrounded by constant reminders."
Non-Linear Storytelling: The non-chronological structure is a deliberate choice to reflect the fragmented, non-linear process of healing. It allows the film to avoid the "trauma plot," which typically presents a clear beginning, middle, and end to the healing process. Instead, Victor shows how trauma ripples through a life, influencing daily events and personal relationships years later.
Blending Comedy and Sincerity: As a former comedian, Victor brings a unique blend of dry wit and deep sincerity to the film. The humor serves as a form of armor, making difficult subject matter more palatable and reflecting the way people often use humor to cope with pain.
Nuanced Characters: Victor's vision extends to the supporting characters, who are given realistic and flawed personalities. Even minor characters, like the sandwich shop owner, are fully realized and contribute to the film's overall message of finding small moments of kindness and connection.
Themes: The Messy Process of Healing
The Non-Linear Nature of Trauma: The film subverts the traditional "trauma plot" by showing that healing isn't a straight line. The protagonist's journey is a fragmented, sometimes confusing process that lacks a clear resolution.
Friendship and Support: The unwavering friendship between Agnes and Lydie is a central theme. Lydie's support is depicted as a life-saving force, a constant presence that anchors Agnes during her struggles.
Institutional Failure: The movie critiques institutions like academia and the justice system, which are shown to be self-protective and ill-equipped to handle cases of sexual assault. This highlights the isolating experience of survivors who are failed by the very systems meant to protect them.
Living with the Unsolvable: Sorry, Baby explores the idea that some things can't be "fixed." It doesn't offer easy answers or a cathartic revenge plot. Instead, it argues for the importance of sitting with betrayal, resentment, and a feeling of powerlessness, and allowing those emotions to run their course slowly.
Key Success Factors: A Fresh Voice and a Timely Story
Eva Victor's Multifaceted Talent: As a writer, director, and star, Eva Victor is a singular voice in cinema. Her ability to handle such difficult subject matter with nuance, restraint, and an effective sense of humor is a major factor in the film's success.
The Unique Narrative Structure: The film’s non-linear, chapter-based storytelling is praised for its ability to mirror the psychological experience of trauma. It's a fresh and intelligent approach that sets it apart from other films on similar topics.
An Exceptional Supporting Cast: The film's success is bolstered by a strong supporting cast, particularly Naomi Ackie, whose performance as Agnes's best friend Lydie is lauded for its warmth and lived-in closeness.
A Timely and Important Message: The film arrives at a time when there is a backlash against the #MeToo movement and a growing need for more nuanced, realistic portrayals of sexual assault and its aftermath. Sorry, Baby serves as a necessary and empathetic response to this cultural moment.
Awards and Nominations: A Sundance Winner
Sorry, Baby has garnered significant recognition, most notably winning the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. It was also shown in the prestigious Directors' Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival. These early awards highlight the film's strong writing and directorial vision.
Critics Reception: A Breathtaking and Nuanced Debut
Rotten Tomatoes: The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 96% positive rating based on 130 critics' reviews. The consensus praises the film for handling a difficult subject with a "light touch and wry sense of humor," and triumphantly announcing Eva Victor as a "formidable talent."
IGN: IGN calls the film "one of 2025's best film debuts," commending its non-chronological structure for prioritizing the protagonist's survival and its refusal to peddle "virtuous resilience or cathartic revenge."
The Guardian: Adrian Horton of The Guardian describes the film as a "smart film about sexual assault" that is "here at just the right time." The review praises its subtle approach and its focus on the "business of living" after a traumatic event, rather than a simplistic "trauma plot."
Empire: Empire magazine's review calls the film a "bracingly fresh, thoughtful, and tenderly funny debut," noting how it "devoid of sensationalism" and "strikingly chooses to keep its more disturbing moments... off-camera."
Overall, critics have widely praised Sorry, Baby as a remarkable and essential debut. Its intelligent and subtle approach to a difficult subject has resonated strongly with reviewers, who laud Eva Victor for her singular voice and masterful execution.
Reviews: A Quiet Masterpiece
BFI's Sight and Sound: The British Film Institute's review praises Victor for her "assured debut" and for balancing "defiantly dark humour with real melancholy." The review notes how the film's "confident, Reichardt-slowness" is a rebellion against the "digital immediacy" of modern media.
Time Out: Time Out gives the film a glowing 5-star review, calling it a "breathtaking debut" and a "captivating comedy-drama." The review highlights the "deep intimacy" between Victor and Naomi Ackie and the film's emotional power that "reverberates" in its almost mundane moments.
AwardsWatch: AwardsWatch gives the film an "A-" grade, calling it "one of the best films of the year." The review praises Victor's "astonishing ability to shift tones" and her "minimal but extremely effective" dramatic staging, comparing her to Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
In summary, the reviews consistently highlight the film's fresh perspective, its emotional depth, and Eva Victor's remarkable talent. Reviewers find it to be a quiet masterpiece that defies genre conventions and offers a much-needed, nuanced take on a serious and often misunderstood topic.
Why to recommend this movie: A Must-Watch for Its Nuance and Empathy
For a Fresh Perspective on Trauma: If you're tired of the simplistic "trauma plot" in movies and television, this film offers a much more realistic and nuanced portrayal of the healing process.
For a Masterful Debut: Eva Victor's work as a writer, director, and lead actor is a tour de force. It's a rare and exciting cinematic debut that signals the arrival of a major new talent.
For the Power of Friendship: The film's beautiful and authentic depiction of a supportive friendship is a powerful and emotional core. It's a reminder of the importance of human connection in the face of adversity.
For Its Unique Tone: The movie's ability to seamlessly blend wry, dry humor with moments of deep sadness and sincerity is truly unique and effective. It's a dark comedy that doesn't shy away from its serious subject matter.
Movie Trend: The Subversion of the "Trauma Plot"
Sorry, Baby is a film that is part of a growing trend to subvert the traditional "trauma plot." This trend involves moving away from the simplistic narrative that trauma is a singular, life-defining event that characters must overcome in a clear, three-act structure. Instead, these films focus on the subtle, ongoing, and fragmented ways in which trauma influences a person's life, showing that healing is a non-linear process that can be messy and incomplete.
Social Trend: The Post-#MeToo Reckoning
The film directly addresses the social and cultural trends following the #MeToo movement. It arrives at a time when there is both a greater awareness of sexual assault and a growing backlash against the movement's progress. Sorry, Baby is a response to this cultural moment, highlighting the institutional failures that persist and the personal struggles that continue even as the public discourse moves on. It's a film that speaks to the complex realities of life for survivors in a world that is still learning how to listen and respond.
Final Verdict: A Breathtakingly Honest and Essential Film
Sorry, Baby is a cinematic triumph. Eva Victor's masterful handling of a deeply sensitive subject, combined with her singular voice and a refreshing narrative structure, creates a film that is both poignant and surprisingly funny. It’s a movie that doesn't give you easy answers, but instead offers a shared space to sit with the messy, fragmented reality of trauma. It's an essential watch and a powerful debut that will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the best films of the year.
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