It wasn’t in Eva Victor’s plans to write and direct their own film. The actor and hilarious content creator spent lockdown going on a cinema deep dive, watching anything from classics to arthouse treasures. Soon enough, this educational experience gave Victor the chance to go from making comedic, short-form videos to writing a screenplay and receiving the backing of none other than Barry Jenkins to make their feature directorial debut. Sorry, Baby, out now in theatres, threads the line between laughter and pain with its protagonist slowly finding the path to healing after a traumatic incident.

Agnes (played by Victor) is a young college professor whose life has been significantly impacted ever since she was sexually assaulted by someone she trusted. Suddenly, trying to fall asleep doesn’t come as easy to her and embarking on a new relationship is far from smooth. “It’s all about just trying to survive the day,” Victor says. “You can’t really think past yourself, and you can’t really think past the moment.”

Yet, what keeps Agnes on her feet is the assurance that her longtime best friend, Lydie (Naomi Ackie), has her back. Whether it’s making her smile during their laid-back conversations on the couch or letting Agnes bring home a stray cat without any complaints, Lydie is the type of friend who would light something on fire for you if you asked her to. 

Still, one of the beauties of Sorry, Baby is that while Lydie helps Agnes power through the pain, her life continues at full speed. Married and with a baby on the way, Ackie’s character is present but also understands that there is only so much she can do to support her friend in a journey that is ultimately personal. “These are pivotal years for both of them. They’re just going through opposite things,” Victor says. 

Much like how their relationship plays out onscreen, the actor/director told SheDoesTheCity that working with Ackie was a bundle of joy. Victor refers to their co-star as “a walking light”, sharing that the second they met, there were instant fireworks. Inspired by Ackie’s London accent, Victor made slight adjustments to the script for Lydie to sound more like her and allowed for their scene partner to build on what was originally on the page. “She’s in the film in a way that I don’t know what the film would be without her.”

Sorry, Baby also finds subtle ways to touch on Agnes’ trauma, without letting the assault take center stage. Instead of showing viewers what happened to the protagonist behind closed doors, Victor’s filmmaking leaves it to Agnes to recount the incident on her own terms. “It’s about decentering the violence and centering on the fight to keep living, and also a friendship that really allows this person to keep moving.”

Even though Agnes struggles to carry on, she does have a breakthrough. Lydie’s constant care, the simmering interest of her next-door neighbour (Lady Bird’s Lucas Hedges), and a little encouragement from a kind stranger (John Carroll Lynch) enable Agnes to regain her sense of self. “There is a shift and I’m proud of her for shifting,” Victor says.

Now that Sorry, Baby is arriving on the big screen, the first-time filmmaker and screenwriter reflects on their experience in front and behind the camera. What helped Victor get through the hardships of making a film was the urgency to tell this story. “It did feel really important to me to write and direct and act in this.” A tale of quiet but powerful triumph, Sorry, Baby proves that Victor is a triple threat. Although it would take an equally personal project for them to fill all three roles again, Victor tells SheDoesTheCity with a smile: “never say never.”

Sorry, Baby is available in theatres across Canada as of July 4.