Desolée, bébé

I have never walked out of a film before, but I almost did. I'm glad I did not as the film won me over. At first, the absurdly goofy and one dimensional characters and dialog was a turn off. I certainly don't know anyone above the age of ten that acts/talks that way. And the costume "designer" should either never work again, or get an Oscar for the impossibly tasteless and frumpy outfits the lead and a few other actors wore.

But as it settled in, the quiet tone and the lead's obviously neurodivergent behavior made more sense. And the subsequent scenes with her next door neighbor "boyfriend", the sandwich shop owner and the baby at the end of the film were sweet. Ultimately, I got a viewpoint that made me think about it later, and that is what makes art worthwhile.

Sorry, Baby is one of the most nuanced, simple yet complex telling of the effects and aftermath of a traumatic event in the life of a bright, energetic and youthful woman. Beautifully written, directed and brought to screen with a very balanced, sensitive and realistic performance by debutant Eva Victor. The movie is truly deserving of its premiere and writing award at Sundance and being the closing movie of the director's fortnight at Cannes.

Eva Victor tells her story in a non chronological manner by moving forward and backward in time through five specific chapters representing five very different years of her life. This non linear approach highlights her emotional journey and augments the story telling significantly. The story is simple and the pace of the movie is slow but it is this slow pace and focus on the lead characters subdued emotions when alone mixed with phases of elation when in the company of her best friend that makes the movie so effective.

Eva does a brilliant job channeling the emotions of disappointment, disillusionment, isolation, grief, anxiety and anger mixed with those of hope, resilience and healing. At no point it appears that she is acting and that is what makes her performance and the movie special. Don't expect any cinematic fireworks as Eva makes the audience truly experience the lead character's emotional journey through trauma. Delicate, authentic and realistic. 8/10.

I really wanted to like this movie. However it felt like a movie that existed only because of the harshness of the subject matter, that of which is not explored very much in the film. There is not really any tension in the film, nor any real sense of storyline. It is basically just a slice of life tale but actually several slices that aren't that intertwined, and most of the plot points felt completely unimportant. You could edit this film down to 30 minutes or less, and it would probably be a lot better. I also felt like the movie could've leaned into Eva's quirkiness more, there were a few funny moments but not nearly enough. Some decent cinematography though and Naomi Ackie is always great. (6.2/10)

I am not a great fan of plot spilling in reviews, so I will try to approach this film round and round. It has so much more; other than the plot itself and one of this movie's main occurrences revolves around the fact that there is a word and a situation that no one wants to describe or call by name.

First of all, I have just adored the fact that this movie is playing with his timeline. I've like it since I first encountered it at Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" and from that day, I have a soft spot for those kind of movies, that makes us assemble the plot and it's details, according to stages from different times.

Second - this movie has some fine small scenes and conversations that doesn't feel related to the plot, but together those situations, scenes and sequences make this movie to be what it is. Small encounters and conversations that makes this movie to be so unique - sad, funny and dramatic - exactly like its main character.

It is directed and scripted by the main character and actress (Eva Victor), that I've personally never heard or watched in other movies. The other actors and actresses, that hovers above and aside are so good and contributes to shape and mold her character's...character and nature.

The puzzle that the viewer needs to assemble is composed out of several chapters, that have hinted headlines. The directing and screenwriting of several situations is just brilliant. Leaves you wonder about a situation that you can guess what it is according to details that were put on the sides of the way to the scene.

And like in each one of "Harry Potter" books and films - there is one word in this movie that is not allowed to tell or say. It can be vaguely described or hinted, but if someone will spill it out, it will make the main character confront with her emotions and feelings.

Thus, and after all being said, we understand that our protagonist should find other ways to deal with what she's been through. Sometimes it is through laughter or sarcasm and sometimes...through speaking with characters that cannot judge or understand.

Anyway...this movie has a lot of charm in it. Great acting skills and surprisingly also great writing and directing skills by a young, promising young woman, which demonstrates control over each and every one of the described skills. It deserves 7.5 stars, from my side.

There is something especially individual about the lead characterisation here, and even though Eve Victor delivers strongly, I just didn't really engage with it. We conclude fairly swiftly that her "Agnes" has suffered some trauma in her life and that now, in her late twenties, she has taken up a professorial job in a small rural community where she seems content to live en seul. Except, that is, until her friend "Lydia" (Naomie Ackie) comes to visit. She and her new girlfriend are expecting a baby and though joyous of the news, it seems to awaken in "Agnes" an appreciation of a hitherto subdued sense of loneliness. During this visit, and thereafter, the plot dances between timelines as we learn more about both women, particularly "Agnes" and along the way are put through quite an emotional wringer. There is a degree of humour here, but it's not the giggle sort - more along the observational, story of life, line that is often quite relatable but frequently swamped in a surfeit of dialogue. It also strays into the melodramatic one too often, too - not least as it descends a little into a well of self-pity that isn't really supported by any depth of likeable characterisation. Ultimately, I think that was probably my issue with "Agnes" here. I just couldn't really empathise with her, despite the heinous nature of the incident, and though entirely justifiable, I found her just a little too self-centred. Sorry, baby, but I just felt fairly underwhelmed and uncomfortably disconnected all the way through.