Among this year’s most powerful debuts, Eva Victor’s Sorry, Baby is one you don’t want to miss, as it has just landed on a UK streaming platform. Writer-director Victor stars as Agnes, a literature college professor who renegotiates the “bad thing” that happened to her three years prior.
As she reunites with best friend Lydie, played by The Thursday Murder Club’s Naomi Ackie, Agnes’ processing reaches a catharsis.
Now available to stream on Mubi UK (which you can add as a Prime Video channel to your Amazon Prime subscription, and comes with a seven-day free trial) and to rent or buy on several digital platforms, Sorry, Baby also features Lucas Hedges as Agnes’ neighbour Gavin and Louis Cancelmi as her professor Preston Decker.
Meanwhile, John Carroll Lynch plays against type in a reassuring cameo that holds a crucial significance to Agnes’ non-linear healing.
The film received critical acclaim upon its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
A24
Currently at a near-perfect score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Sorry, Baby has been hailed as “a phenomenal first feature” (via The Observer) and has put Victor on the map of filmmakers to watch.
Loosely inspired by the director’s own experiences, Sorry, Baby has emerged as a moving, pragmatic portrayal of the lingering trauma of sexual assault.
The film shows a candid approach to the social and bureaucratic intricacies of a rape’s aftermath, while it manages to find unexpected levity among the grimness of it all.
A24
Steering clear of sensationalism, Victor anchors her dramedy in the relationships that matter, with a soft focus on the beautiful friendship of Agnes and Lydie.
Mastering such a delicate tonal balance is no easy feat – Sorry, Baby will move you and have you in stitches at the flick of a switch – and is but one of the reasons that make the movie an unmissable watch.
Sorry, Baby is streaming on Mubi in the UK. Mubi can also be added as a channel on Prime Video and comes with a 7-day free trial for first-time subscribers.
The film is also available to buy or rent from Prime Video, Apple TV and other digital retailers.
If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, which works towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, on its website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).