I’m officially a member of the Eva Victor fan club. SORRY, BABY, written, directed, and starring Victor is one of my favorite films I’ve seen this year. The movie walks the finest line I’ve seen between between drama and comedy, constantly amping up one side or the other before flipping to the other genre.
The result is a story that captures an enormous amount of emotion, empathy, and realism – while also being incredibly entertaining. I love a slice-of-life slow-burn, which often have the former qualities, but SORRY, BABY is not that, at all; yet still achieves the same level of depth. The story is told non-linearly, but is never confusing and never uses its structure as a crutch.
And while the story, tone, and structure are unique – the relationships between characters are so realistic and natural, you’re fully sucked in. Naomi Ackie plays Agnes'(Eva Victor) best friend, and watching them on screen together almost feels like you’re intruding, as if you’re overhearing them. Lucas Hedges, Louis Cancelmi, Kelly McCormack, and John Carroll Lynch round out the cast and each have equally compelling scenes with the main character.
I came out of this movie wanting more; not because I wasn’t satisfied, but because of how good it was. It’s exciting that this is Eva Victor’s directorial debut; I’m looking forward to more in the future. Naomi Ackie was a standout in MICKEY 17, and she continues to deliver a unique blend of heart and humor. Lucas Hedges is always a joy to watch. The movie was produced by Barry Jenkins, who also produced one of my favorite films from 2022 – AFTERSUN. For now, I can’t to watch this film again whenever it has it’s wide release.
SORRY, BABY is an official selection of the 51st Seattle International Film Festival! It will screen at SIFF’s closing night on May 24, 2025 at SIFF Cinema Downtown . Escape to the Reel World by booking your tickets at siff.net/passes!
