Eva Victor opened the Edinburgh International Film Festival with her debut feature Sorry, Baby, following in the footsteps of fellow A24 alumni Charlotte Wells’s Aftersun. The similarities don’t end there, because not only is this film the work of an exciting new voice in cinema, but it was also produced by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) and Adele Romanski.
Something bad happened to Agnes, but life goes on… for everyone around her, at least.
The path for working through trauma and grief is never complete and never a straight line. Victor presents Agnes’s journey in an episodic, non-linear fashion. Jumping back and forth through different years in her life.
Words have defined Agnes’ life. Whether it is her student thesis or subsequent job as a literary faculty member. And yet, it is the moments involving the absence of words that are the most impactful.
The way Victor’s body tenses up and a thousand emotions silently pass across her face at the mention of a name, tells the entire story. Then, in a graphic description of the incident, it is the words that are not asked or returned, e.g. permission and consent, that are deafening in their absence.
And yet, the screenplay is able to find moments of lightness in the darkest of places. Using humour as a defence mechanism, Agnes attempts to cut through the pain rather than confront it head-on. For example, a visit to the hospital sees her sarcastically push back against a matter-of-fact male doctor during an examination.
The fact that the film can traverse that delicate tightrope is thanks to the actors sparring with Victor. Whether it is Naomi Ackie’s best friend, Lucas Hedges’s neighbour, or Hettiene Park as a lawyer selecting a jury. A special mention goes to John Carroll Lynch, who shines in one short but pivotal scene, and showcases the power that a good sandwich can have in the recovery process.
The supporting performances are all terrific, but this is Eva Victor’s show. They prove to be the ultimate triple threat. Not only a fantastic writer, but a great director, drawing a stunning central performance from, well, themselves.
It is an incredibly personal story, but one that is sadly all too relatable to many. Victor allows Agnes, and by proxy the audience, to realise and accept that it is okay not to be okay, that bad things happen, and the world is a fucked up place. Sorry, baby, but it is a fact. Our emotional and mental wounds may never truly heal… however, an emotional support cat is a pretty good substitute!
Whilst Agnes struggles to find the words at times to express herself, Victor’s screenplay is a lucid, beautiful one that presents a bold new voice in independent cinema that will be heard for many years to come.
Sorry, Baby is in UK cinemas from August 22
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Director: Eva Victor
Stars: Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges, John Carroll Lynch
Runtime: 101 minutes
Country: USA
