Something bad happened to Agnes. But life goes on… for everyone around her, at least.

In an aching and tender debut feature, writer-director Eva Victor displays a tremendous specificity of voice, depicting graduate student-turned-professor Agnes with sensitivity and emotional clarity both before and after her trauma. Infusing the character’s sardonic wit into its cinematic language of isolation and confusion, Sorry, Baby uses its nonlinear formal structure and five-year duration to capture the complexities and inconsistencies, triumphs and setbacks of Agnes’ attempts to heal.

Victor also gives an endearingly vulnerable and fearlessly honest performance as her central character. Naomi Ackie radiates warmth as the sharp-witted roommate whose intimate, frank bond with Agnes allows her the safety to grapple with the enormity of what has happened to her, while Lucas Hedges brings tenderness to his role as Agnes’ befuddled but kind neighbor.—Heidi Zwicker

Available in person. Also available online for the public (January 30–February 2) and credentialed press and industry (January 29–February 2).