Eva Victor writes, directs, and stars in Sorry, Baby, a stunning debut to remind us that another Greta Gerwig always waits to convince us that young art is eternal. Sorry Baby is one of the best movies of the year, a careful, relaxed antidot to the usual glut of summer blockbusters. Although Victor’s Agnes experiences off screen “The Big Thing” in her grad school experience, the dark comedy is about how she survives it and moves forward with mostly a “lesson-learned” life, albeit a one needing help to emotionally adjust.
As Agnes progresses through a small New England University with studies in writing and literature, she adjusts to aggressive profs, jealous peers, and a lesbian best friend Lydie (Naomi Ackie), who more easily finds love and a baby, both of which she consistently finds challenging. Yet, victor’s script lets Agnes have some thoughtful speeches (note her final speech to Lydie’s baby about life’s disappointments) and John Carroll Lynch’s salving words and good sandwich late in the film.
Most impressive to me is the consistently under played tone as soothing and measured as a soft summer night. Again, the contrast with summer’s blockbuster bombast is refreshing, showing the importance of slowing down the big emotions and embracing even big things that threaten life’s benign balances.
The Northeastern setting helps give the serious, academic tone as lengthy as the seemingly-eternal grad grind but thoughtful as our protagonist navigates a world her thesis advisor upended by crossing the line. Yet Agnes (sometimes as innocent as “the lamb of God”) moves forward with the film’s cool tone, never rushing us to the end of the arc.
Some may find the film’s languishing pace slow; I find it slow like a good summer gin and tonic, out of which truth will emerge if you give it a chance. Welcome the new Greta Gerwig.
Director: Eva Victor
Screenplay: Victor
Cast: Victor, Naomi Ackie (Blink Twice)
Rating: R
Length: 1h 43m
John DeSando, a Los Angeles Press Club first-place winner for National Entertainment Journalism, hosts NPR’s It’s Movie Time and Cinema Classics as well as podcasts Back Talk and Double Take (recently listed by Feedspot as two of the ten best NPR Movie Podcasts) out of WCBE 90.5 FM, Columbus, Ohio. Contact him at JohnDeSando52@gmail.com