Eva Victor’s debut movie, “Sorry, Baby”, introduces us to Agnes, a witty, independent woman whose life is marred by a traumatic experience that changes her perception of herself, from a budding academic to a survivor. The film brilliantly navigates the story of Agnes, a promising literature scholar, whose trusting relationship with her professor shatters when he sexually harasses her. This incident sends Agnes into a spiral of questioning everything she once believed in, leading to emotional struggles that manifest throughout the narrative.
Victor ingeniously embeds a critique of her hyper-articulate, idealistic generation into the script without compromising on the depth and originality of her character creation. The movie’s story blooms in an unconventionally circular plot, where we explore different facets of Agnes’ life pre and post the traumatic incident, giving us an intimate insight into her gradual transformation from a free-spirited young woman to someone guarded.
The narrative shines a light on society's poor handling of sexual assault cases, as seen in specific scenes where a male doctor insensitively reprimands Agnes for cleaning herself after the assault, and university authorities feigning empathy but offering minimal help.
Key scenes are deliberately left out in Victor's narrative, forcing the audience to play detective, piecing together what happened in between. This gives “Sorry, Baby” a quiet and lasting impact, engraving itself on the viewer's mind with its subtlety and attention to detail.
Drawing comparisons with movies like “Manchester by the Sea”, “Sorry, Baby” echoes the sentiment of resilience - the act of moving forward being more significant than the setback itself. Its portrayal of trauma is compassionate and warm, not focusing on Agnes wallowing in her misfortune but her journey towards recovery instead.
For many, Victor's writing and directing will be a refreshing and powerful discovery. She successfully manages to discuss trauma in an empathetic way, countering the societal norm of ‘toughening up’. She starts a crucial conversation and finds the words many are still searching for.
