Let’s hear that for brief log lines. Think about the first one film from Eva Victorcomedians and social media, making an absolute major Debut with her “Sorry, Baby.” Per official press material And Sundance emissionsThe film’s synopsis is: “Something bad happened to Agnes. But life continues … at least for everyone around her. “Both simple and secret, suggests drama and revelations and promising to root us in Agnes World.
It really is all true for “Sorry, Baby”, but no quick hit of words could ever accurately convey the power and strength of Victor’s debut, a dark fun and extremely tender movie that, yes, is about what happens after the worst happens, But with plenty of space to weave the light next to the darkness. Something bad happens to Agnes, but Victor is a wise enough creator to understand that it is only part of the story, because it is only part of life itself. And while Victor’s film may be anchored specifically in Agnes story and the bad in the center, in its specificity, there is still enormous room for greater recognition and revelation.
After all, haven’t we all had something bad happened to us? And didn’t life continue?
Told in a series of titled chapter – We open with “The Year with the Baby” the movie begins after the bad thing happened. Agnes (Victor; by Note, both the filmmaker and their character uses she/they pronounce) lives a quiet life in the same New England city where she attended the research school, and the film starts with a much needed visit from her best friend Lydie (Naomi Acka), who long ago left New England, Grade School and Agnes to create their own lives in New York City. Lydie has progressed, while Agnes still lives in the same country cottage as BFF’s occupied during school.
Agnes is proud of Lydie’s return, but while “Sorry, Baby” opens on a note of joy, with friends who immediately slip back to their lovingly established relationship, there is a touch of restraint to Victor’s performance that tickles. Why hasn’t Agnes left? Why does Lydie have to come and see Agnes? And, gosh, what is the deal with the rest of their degree class (including a desperately fun Kelly McCormack, whose Animus towards Agnes is both understandable and very entertaining)? Lydie has come up with news: she and her partner are pregnant (Agnes perfect answer: “Will you name it Agnes?”).
Victor’s next chapter takes us back in time, just before the bad, with Victor exactly calibrates their performance to a younger, more free, less scared Agnes. Both versions of Agnes are credible and real-when we recognize Victor’s wonderful writing and directing, let’s not ignore their incredibly fine-tuned performance, even Victor’s posture Can convey a whole story – and it is striking to see how Agnes has changed over the years and how we can still see their essence and Verve in all frameworks.
What will happen can be clearly felt at the moment a whispering discontinued Louis Cancelmi blows into Agnes and Lydie’s Seminar Room, a popular professor who is way Too interested in what his students think about their own work, but Victor still finds new ways to handle it. “The year with the bad” (we will not destroy each chapter, but each one revolves around an important moment we see in the film, from good sandwiches to big questions) does not shimmer on tackle, but with a convincing mix of humor ( Victor’s Deadpan Observation Gags also makes the most horrible cases fun) and a deep empathy for what has happened (much of the care of Ackies Lydie, a gem by a best friend).
Even in the immediate aftermath of Agnes’s bad thing, Victor does not avoid life’s fun ways to keep up the absurd, everyday, the ridiculous. Events that are as full as reporting her attack to school (with two dead face female administrators as a monkey understanding by simply repeating, “We Are Women”) is both crazy and heartbreaking, and Victor can be the only currently functioning filmmaker Adept enough to use a jury duty calls itself as an opportunity for multiple Documents of self -actualization and identification.
What is perhaps most striking with “Sorry, Baby” is the thread of genuine humanity and empathy that goes right through it. Despite what happened to Agnes, good things still followed: Lydie fell in love, got married and is about to be a mother, while Agnes turned out to be a dedicated and admired professor and maybe even found a paramour in the shy guy next door (a charming Lucas hedges). (Also good: Agnes’ discovery of a small kitten, an example of the so -called cat distribution system that speaks to the film’s interest in serendipity.)
Something bad happened to Agnes. But life continues. Big, wonderful, funny, horrible, weird, sad, good life. How lucky we are that Victor is here to chronicate just that.
Rating: A-
“Sorry, Baby” premiered at 2025 Sundance Film festival. It is currently seeking US distribution.
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