Sorry, Baby (2025) – A Quiet Portrait of Pain, and the Strength to Keep Going

Sorry, Baby (2025), written and directed by Eva Victor, left me feeling gutted but strangely hopeful. It’s a movie that made me think deeply about the isolating weight of trauma and the sheer, quiet strength it takes just to keep going. I really loved its unique, smart style and honest heart, even if the core story is undeniably tough and sad. This film sticks with you.

Starring Eva Victor as Agnes, with fantastic support from Naomi Ackie as her best friend, this black comedy-drama probes life after a seismic personal crisis, earning a solid 8/10 from me. Let’s unpack the details.

The Plot: From Campus Life to Silent Survival

Sorry, Baby follows Agnes, a reclusive college literature professor. The film starts with that honest, heart-warming vibe, showing her deep, enduring friendship with her best friend (Naomi Ackie). Even though they don’t live together anymore, you feel the history and love there. We also see her in the academic world, working on her thesis under the guidance of her professor. Then, the bad event happens: she is raped by that same thesis adviser. What follows isn’t a standard procedural thriller, but a meticulously observed journey into the aftermath.

The movie shifts to show Agnes trying to live with her pain, dealing with depression and going on and off about suicide, while everyone else’s life seems to move on normally around her. It’s a story about the solitude of trauma, but also about the flickers of resilience. Without giving spoilers, seeing Agnes navigate this—even eventually becoming a full-time professor herself—is the core of this gripping, thoughtful film.

What I Loved: Style, Strength, and Smiles

The most clever thing for me was those section titles between scenes. They were witty, poignant, and some genuinely made me smile amidst the heavier material. They give the film a distinct voice, like little chapter headings in a book about Agnes’s life, and they show a directorial confidence that’s impressive for a debut.

What really powers the movie, though, is its unflinching look at recovery—which isn’t a straight line. Agnes’s struggle feels painfully real. The film doesn’t offer easy answers or dramatic courtroom confrontations; it’s about the internal battle. Her journey from victimhood to surviving, and perhaps eventually thriving, is heartbreaking but ultimately strengthening to watch. It’s a nice movie that makes you think, and for that reason, I find it good to rewatch. You catch new nuances in Eva Victor’s subtle performance and the sharp script each time.

A Note on the Theme

I have to say, seeing two movies from 2025 with a similar theme about a female student raped by a university professor makes you think. First there was After the Hunt with Julia Roberts. What a coincidence! And speaking of Julia Roberts, she actually gave Sorry, Baby a huge shout-out in her 2026 Golden Globe speech, mentioning the movie and showing its protagonist Eva Victor in the audience, saying it’s a good movie and asking people to watch it. That’s a pretty awesome endorsement!

Ratings and Critical Reception

• IMDb: 7.2/10 (from 18,000 votes) 
• Rotten Tomatoes: 97% Critics (188 Reviews) / 85% Audience 
• Box Office: $3.3 million worldwide on a $1.5 million budget.

The critical scores are sky-high for a reason—this is a critically acclaimed darling. It won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance, and Eva Victor snagged Best Directorial Debut from the National Board of Review. Critics hail its smart writing, unique voice, and powerful performance. The audience scores are strong but slightly lower, which I get; it’s a challenging, specific vibe. My 8/10 lands me in the middle: I deeply respect and was moved by it, even if the pacing of grief might feel slow for some.

A Rewatchable Gem for Thoughtful Drama Fans

At its heart, Sorry, Baby is a gripping character study and a triumph of personal filmmaking. Eva Victor announces themselves as a major multi-hyphenate talent—acting, writing, and directing with a clear, confident vision. It’s a film that sparked a lot of reflection for me on how we carry pain and the invisible battles people fight.

So, at 8/10, it’s a searing, clever, and ultimately resilient film; dive in if you’re ready for an emotionally honest journey told with striking style.

What did you think of Sorry, Baby? Did the section titles work for you, or did you find the pacing too slow? Have you seen After the Hunt, and how do you think they compare? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and here’s the big one: suggest a movie for my next review! I’m craving more smart, character-driven dramas. If you enjoyed this post, please like, follow, and share so you don’t miss the next review. Thanks for joining me—see you in the next one!