“Sorry, Baby” (2025) – Eva Victor’s Soul-Stirring Drama About Sexual Assault

Writer/Director: Eva Victor

Starring: Eva Victor, Naomie Ackie and Lucas Hedges

‘A Powerful Drama’

Sexual assault is a sensitive subject that is rarely depicted in movies with respect. Hollywood has often avoided depicting the lives of women that are sexually assaulted. From a personal point-of-view, I find the tales of sexual assault survivors easy to relate to. At an early age, I formed a strong bond with a housemaid that suffered from sexual assault causing damage. A promising young woman, she sought to defy the rigid tradition of her nation that mistreated women. Seeking to escape her country which caused her to face trauma, my housekeeper’s lifelong dream was to immigrate to America. In the hopes of achieving her life dream, my housekeeper set off on a journey to become married in America. Seeking to settle down, she got married to a Brazilian man that she often talked about fondly. My family often assumed that she was in a commemorated marriage that wasn’t facing damage. There didn’t seem to be any sign that her marriage would face a decline. In a prejudice country that pushed women aside, she became a companion in whom I whom confide. However, sexual assault brought my housekeeper’s life towards a sudden halt. Stabbed to death in a shower by her lover, my housekeeper became victim of a grim murder. When we discovered our housekeeper had been murdered, my family was shattered. I could never wrap my head around why my housemaid had to die in crime that was never inspected by the FBI. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t move on from incidents in which my housemaid died. Several years later, I treasure heartwarming memories of a commemorated housekeeper.

As someone treasuring a housemaid that faced adversity, I adored “Sorry, Baby”. Released in 2025, Eva Victor’s movie captured sexual assault. Packed with breathtaking production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of the year. At the centre of it all is a terrific performance by Eva Victor, who embodies a strong sexual assault survivor. Although “Sorry, Baby” is a moving drama, it isn’t flawless. It’s unevenly paced, and tests viewers’ patience. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of dramas.

“Sorry, Baby” follows a woman that experiences sexual assault causing adversity. Eva Victor portrays Agnes, an emotionally sensitive literature professor with devotion to her profession. Agnes has always been fond of her teachers she regards as role models. However, Agnes’ life forever changes when she is sexually assaulted by her college professor. Assisted by her friend Lydie (Naomi Ackie), Agnes embarks on an emotional journey to overcome adversity. Haunted by memories of sexual assault, Agnes’ struggles to keep her life from falling apart.

Eva Victor is a newcomer towards themes of sexual assault. A first-time filmmaker, Victor had never made a movie about sexual assault in her career before. “Sorry, Baby” marked her debut and first foray into the dark subject of sexual assault. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of women that are sexually assaulted facing adversity but he succeeded tremendously. Using captivating cinematography, Victor captures a sexually assaulted woman that embarks on an emotional journey. Evoking Emerald Fennell’s “Promising Young Woman”, Victor uses point-of-view shots to capture the hardships sexually assaulted women go through. For instance, POV shots elevate the doctor’s office scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Agnes recalls her experience being sexually assaulted at the doctor’s office. It reminded me about my housekeeper’s experience of being sexually assaulted that left my family emotionally devastated. POV shots are tricky. As George Miller’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” suggested, POV shots elevate dystopian blockbusters. Nevertheless, it works. Through breathtaking visuals, Victor captures tensions assaulted women are facing.

Another admirable aspect of “Sorry, Baby” that merits appreciation is the production. Evoking Lenny Abrahamson’s “Room”, Victor effectively uses confined locations to capture lives of sexually assaulted women facing tensions. Throughout the movie, Agnes’ confined home showcases her experience as a sexual assault survivor. For instance, the confined location of the house elevates the window sealing scene. During this unforgettable scene, Agnes seals her windows shut to avoid being seen by intruders. Using confined locations, Victor creates a portrait of assault that’s compelling. It brought back memories of a housekeeper that would share stories about being confined in homes causing adversity. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Lia Ouyang Rusli’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the film tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden victims of sexual assault bear. Through stunning production, Victor honours sexually assaulted women.

Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Sorry, Baby” is a movie about sexual assault that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses sequences of silence to capture the hardships sexually assaulted women experience. Evoking Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women”, Victor uses silence to capture hardships that abused women experience. For instance, silence elevates the sexual assault aftermath scene. During this unforgettable scene, Agnes adopts a silent attitude refusing to talk with her friend after experiencing sexual assault. It reminded me of my grief being unable to discuss my feelings with parents after a housemaid I appreciated was sexually assaulted. Through silence, Victor crafts a portrait of sexual assault that audiences can easily relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Joe Wright’s “Pride & Prejudice” suggested, silence enhances Jane Austen adaptations. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Through a spectacular screenplay, Victor captures the painful price sexually assaulted women pay.

One admires amazing performances.

Eva Victor delivers one of her best career performances as Agnes. Victor achieved appreciation for playing strong feminist heroes in television shows. With “Sorry, Baby”, however, she took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a sexually assaulted woman that faces adversity but she succeeds. Evoking Jodie Comer in Ridley Scott’s “The Last Duel”, Victor embodies a woman that refuses to stay silent about sexual assault that’s cruel. With riveting expressions, she conveys the angst, desperation and trauma faced by a woman that faces sexual assault causing tensions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most promising actresses working today.

While the movie is mainly a showcase for Eva Victor, the supporting cast is also sensational. Naomie Ackie is astonishing, capturing the compassionate personality of a woman seeking to assist her friend overcome adversity. Lucas Hedges is fantastic, bringing adventurous spirit to a courageous teenage boy that falls in love with a girl that’s dangerous. Lastly, John Carroll Lynch merits appreciation. As a friendly neighbour, he is unforgettable.

Despite its extraordinary performances, however, “Sorry, Baby” can’t quite capture sexual assault that causes women to experience tragedy. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks engaging pacing. Victor’s decisions to integrate romantic subplots into the movie is understandable but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty decision, scenes capturing Agnes’ romantic bond with her boyfriend aren’t as engaging as her personal experiences with sexual assault. As Amy Heckerling’s “Clueless” demonstrated, romantic subplots enhance classic coming-of-age dramas about clueless teen girls. Therefore, “Sorry, Baby” can’t quite capture the frighteninig lives of women that experience sexual assault causing adversity.

Nevertheless, fans of dramas will definitely enjoy “Sorry, Baby” and so would movie-goers seeking meaningful entertainment. A spectacular drama, it proves that Cinema is an art-form that can honour sexual assault survivors facing trauma.

A powerful portrait of sexual assault that causes the lives of women to deteriorate, it’s a riveting reminder that the commemorated stories of women that face hardships are worth telling in movies that audiences appreciate.

As powerful as Agnes’ desires to recover after being sexually assaulted, it has motivated me to move on years after tragic death of a housekeeper that left my family truly devastated by cherishing positive memories of a servant I appreciated that made me well aware of the sad hardships which are faced by women whose rights are violated.

4.5/5 stars