Sorry Baby is the debut feature film of Eva Victor who wrote, directed and stars in it as the leading character. It is a story about Agnes, a student at an American college who is sexually abused by a professor. The plot unfolds over several years and jumps back and forth in time in a sometimes fragmented way and slow pace.
We are never shown what happened between Agnes and her teacher. She visits his home and the camera stays on the outside of the house while day passes to night. After some hours she leaves in a hurry.
This is an interesting stylistic choice as we only have Agnes’s perspective to draw on and develop sympathy for but the keeps the story focussed on the aftermath of the experience and the effect it has on her and those who are close to her.
What is clever in this film is that it is not cliche driven. Not all the men are villains, and indeed Agnes has a relationship with a very caring and understanding man, and is assisted by a man when she has a panic attack. At the same time, not all women are allies. Two female members of the university faculty claim to be supportive, but claim they are powerless to do anything to help Agnes.
The film is nicely shot and the story unfolds slowly and somewhat poetically. What it shows is the long term effects of trauma and the complicated path to healing.
It is nicely done.
SORRY BABY
Starring: Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, Louis Cancelmi, Kelly McCormack, Hettienne Park, RR Fightmaster, Lucas Hedges, John Carroll Lynch
Directed by: Eva Victor
Duration: 104 minutes
Open in New Zealand 4th September 2025
