Sorry, Baby (2025) Dir: Eva Victor

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This A24 produced drama, directed by and starring Eva Victor, caught my eye pretty much immediately upon its domestic release, after receiving some very good reviews. I knew that it featured some emotionally challenging content, but I didn't know what that would look like, as it pertained to its presentation in the film. I had hope that it would be addressed in an empathetic, yet matter-of-fact way, but you can never be sure with film when it comes to topics of this sort.

The film featured some very satisfying yet simple cinematography. There was nothing overtly flashy, but everything was nicely done, and some of the framing was absolutely divine. I love when low budget films make the most of the tools at their disposal, and I would certainly put this film in that category. There was one shot of a house that I found particularly effective, partially because of its very smart framing, and partially because of the storytelling that it provided. It was an excellent but truly haunting shot.

There was a lot to digest about this film for me. It was a deeply emotional story, which was thematically quite heavy. This meant that it was not an easy watch, despite how good it was. But, as has been pointed out by many a person before me, not all good media is supposed to make you feel comfortable. Some of the content of this film was extremely uncomfortable, but it was brilliantly told, and through the lense of a unique and compelling protagonist.

I also think there's something to be said about how effectively Victor created those feelings of discomfort and upset without showing the extremely harrowing event which shapes much of the story. I think a lot of filmmakers could learn from it, especially male filmmakers. All too often you see filmmakers feel the need to not only show horrifying events, such as the ones depicted in this film, but to make them as visceral and intense as they possibly can. It isn't just unnecessary, it's downright triggering and gratuitous.

Director and protagonist Eva Victor provided a deeply moving and versatile performance, which showcased the filmmaker's wealth of talents. I was particularly fond of their dry comedic delivery, which landed very well with me. I feel as though this performance is one that will only get better as time passes. This film has definite cult hit potential, and Eva Victor has a massive hand in that, not only because of their exquisite direction, but for their wonderful acting too.

I must admit, I have not been a huge fan of Naomi Ackie at this stage of her career, but I did enjoy this performance quite a bit, in fairness. The character suited her strengths, and she played into that smoothly. She also had a very sweet degree of chemistry with Victor, that made their scenes together very enjoyable. There were also a few strong performances from other supporting cast members, most notably Louis Cancelmi, Kelly McCormack, Lucas Hedges, and John Carroll Lynch.

Overall, despite how long it took me to gather my thoughts and feelings towards this film, my appreciation of it as both a work of solid filmmaking and as piece of feminist media is paramount. Sometimes, a film makes you feel strongly, and even if those aren't necessarily the most enjoyable feelings, it shouldn't take away from the perception of the film's quality. On the contrary, it should encourage you to appreciate it more, in some cases, this one included. This feels like a very important film to watch, in this day and age.