Movies

Sorry, Baby: A Heartbreaking Comedy About Moving Through Trauma

BBG News

Movies at their peak can serve as delicate representations of emotions we’ve felt but struggled to express clearly. Moreover, in matters of emotion, articulation may not always be essential; one of the roles of art is to delve into the ineffable, and occasionally it’s comforting to allow a film to shoulder some of our emotional burdens for us.

The goal that Eva Victor’s first film, titled “Sorry, Baby“, aspires to achieve revolves around its narrative. In this movie, Eva portrays the character of Agnes, a woman in her late twenties who has chosen to remain in the quiet college town where she completed her graduate studies. This decision seems beneficial, as it led to a full-time teaching position at her alma mater, mirroring the path taken by the charismatic mentor who guided her thesis, Preston Decker (Louis Cancelmi). Soon after Agnes begins her job, her dearest friend Lydie (Naomi Ackie), an old classmate, arrives from New York. Lydie brings exciting news – she’s recently married and has just learned she’s pregnant. Agnes is thrilled for her friend, but at the same time, she feels left behind as Lydie embarks on a new phase of life post-grad school, a path that Agnes can’t seem to follow.

The reason for that situation is because Agnes experienced sexual assault during her final year in graduate school. The movie Sorry, Baby explores both the events leading up to the assault and its aftermath, where Agnes grapples with the complex emotions associated with sexual trauma – such as anger, guilt, and confusion that often burden victims.

The incident isn’t exaggerated, but Agnes’ account of it is marked by sadness, not just because it left her physically and emotionally scarred, but because she had admired and confided in the offender – perhaps even harbored feelings for him that she later recognized were not reciprocated. In this portrayal, Victor doesn’t shy away from delving into those complex emotions. It’s often assumed that rape victims should feel a particular way: there should be unrelenting anger or a desire for vengeance. However, Victor navigates more nuanced grounds here. Agnes chooses not to press charges against her attacker, stating, “I want him to stop being someone who does such things. And if he were imprisoned, he’d just be a person who does such things who’s also behind bars.” For Agnes, it’s not about retribution; rather, she wishes the situation had unfolded differently, that she hadn’t been let down by someone she trusted.

Although some might argue that Agnes’ decision not to pursue charges puts other women at risk, this isn’t the main focus of “Sorry, Baby.“. Instead, her treatment, particularly by supposed feminist campus representatives, makes her choice comprehensible. This film is a unique blend of comedy and personal trauma, and Victor largely succeeds in maintaining this balance. Unexpected humor emerges at unexpected moments, such as when Agnes finds herself with an almost-dead mouse brought by her cat. However, there’s no perfect solution to this problem, though Agnes tries her best. The cast skillfully manages the film’s tonal shifts. Ackie, who played Whitney Houston in the 2022 biopic “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody“, delivers a compelling performance as Lydie, a friend who can sense even the deepest secrets. Although Victor occasionally overemphasizes Agnes’ awkwardness for comedic effect, he shines in scenes with Gavin (Lucas Hedges), the shy neighbor who visits at scheduled times for casual sex. Victor effectively portrays Agnes’ struggle not to desire too much from anyone, yet we can see her slowly learning to navigate the world again. She has no reason to avoid the world entirely.

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2025-06-27 15:06

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