Archive · 31 Oct 2025
Eva Victor Discusses Personal Journey in "Sorry, Baby"
Eva Victor made a movie called 'Sorry, Baby' that is very personal to her.
It's about a woman named Agnes who is trying to heal after a bad experience.
Even though the movie is about difficult things, Eva is happy people can watch it at home.
Agnes's best friend, Lydie, is going to have a baby, which makes Agnes worry about their friendship.
Eva wrote the movie because she wanted to see a story about healing after trauma, not just about the bad event itself.
The movie doesn't show the assault, focusing instead on Agnes dealing with her feelings afterward.
Eva also highlights how important friendship is, and how her own friend helped her.
The film also touches on Agnes questioning her gender identity as she figures herself out.
The story builds towards Agnes being able to help others, showing that healing is a long journey with milestones, but not a final destination.
Eva Victor's film 'Sorry, Baby' explores the aftermath of sexual assault and the healing process through the character of Agnes.
The film, written, directed, and starring Victor, intentionally omits showing the assault to focus on Agnes's subjective experience and recovery.
A central theme is the importance of friendship, particularly the supportive relationship between Agnes and her best friend, Lydie.
Victor's personal connection to the story stems from her own experiences and a desire to find cinematic representation for the aftermath of trauma.
'Sorry, Baby' also delves into themes of identity, including Agnes's journey with gender and rebuilding her sense of self.
- Who
- Eva Victor (writer, director, star)
- What
- Discussion about her personal film 'Sorry, Baby,' exploring themes of trauma, healing, friendship, and identity.
- When
- Following the film's release on HBO Max and its debut at Sundance Film Festival.
- Where
- Not specified in the context of the interview, but the film is available on HBO Max.
- Why
- To provide insight into the deeply personal story behind the film, Victor's creative process, and the deliberate thematic choices made.
Filmmaker's Intentions
Potential Audience Interpretation
Depiction of Assault
Filmmaker's Intentions
Victor deliberately avoids showing the assault to focus on the survivor's subjective experience of healing and to demonstrate that emotional resonance can be achieved without graphic depiction, aiming to keep the audience engaged with the recovery process.
Potential Audience Interpretation
Some viewers might find the lack of explicit depiction of the assault less impactful or might expect a narrative that more directly confronts the perpetrator or the violence itself, potentially perceiving its omission as a way to downplay the severity of the event.
Focus of Narrative
Filmmaker's Intentions
The film's narrative deliberately centers on the survivor's (Agnes) internal journey, her healing process, and the significance of her support system, intentionally sidelining the perpetrator and the legal pursuit of justice to emphasize the personal aftermath.
Potential Audience Interpretation
Certain audience members might expect a story that prioritizes the pursuit of justice through legal means or directly addresses the actions of the perpetrator, and may find the film's redirection away from these elements less satisfying or conclusive.
Exploration of Identity
Filmmaker's Intentions
Victor integrates Agnes's questioning of gender binaries and the introduction of non-binary characters as integral to her post-trauma self-rebuilding, reflecting a fluidity that is personally comforting and artistically significant.
Potential Audience Interpretation
The exploration of gender fluidity, while intentional, could be perceived by some audience members as a complex or potentially distracting element from the primary narrative of trauma recovery, especially if they hold more conventional views on gender.
- Film Title
- Sorry, Baby
- Director
- Eva Victor
- Starring
- Eva Victor, Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges
- Genre
- Dark Dramedy
- Themes
- Trauma, healing, friendship, identity, gender
- Streaming Platform
- HBO Max
- Awards
- Gotham Awards nominations for Best Feature and Best Original Screenplay