Sorry, Baby (2025)
Muted traumas are easier to forget.
Presentation:
Promoted by Letterbox’s top 4 films of 2025, many viewers have also come to adore this film. The question is whether you will be one of them? To answer this, you need to first understand that this is more of a cultural snapshot targeted at Gen Y/Gen X millennials with its sardonic humor. Eva Victor presents her interpretation of the American zeitgeist from an intriguing feminist perspective while also being inclusive of sensitive viewers. But this isn’t really a woke film, it’s thoughtful, and empathetic, thought definitely speaking to those capable of grasping emotional sensitivities. The film is about trauma but it approaches it with a refreshingly dark wit. The cinematography reminded me a lot of Roy Andersson’s work with ultrawides and thematically appropriately pastel greens and blues. Wardrobe and color design do a lot of heavy lifting to cover up this indie production. It’s a muted film with minimal soundtrack, but it’s not a quiet film with copious sass and banter. As a result I ended up dozing off in the beginning but was surprised by how much it improves. There are a few really well done scenes with some good and some bad cinematography, namely the lighting. I overall found the performances restrained and nuanced, though not on the subtle level of this year’s Sentimental Value.
Conclusion:
An unusual dark comedy about trauma. It’s quite clear that this film has the potential to speak deeply to a niche audience. For the rest, it will likely be lukewarm with its low impact resolution. The thematic elements are refined, though with such a neutral presentation I’m not sure how long this experience will stay with you. And perhaps you would feel guilty about forgetting it, if only there was a stronger message.
Recommendations
Shakespeare still crushing it in 2025.