Eva Victor‘s first movie as a director and writer is a powerful dark comedy called SORRY, BABY. It’s about how people feel after a traumatic event. When it first came out at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024, the movie quickly became one of the most talked-about independent films of the year. This is because of its bold plot and great acting, as well as the fact that it is set in real New England, which adds to the story’s tone and realism.
Sorry, Baby stars Victor as Agnes, with Naomi Ackie as her best friend Lydie. The cast also includes Lucas Hedges, Louis Cancelmi, John Carroll Lynch, Kelly McCormack, and E.R. Fightmaster.
WHAT IS SORRY, BABY ABOUT?
Sorry, Baby centers on Agnes (Eva Victor), an English professor living in rural New England. Years after surviving a sexual assault by her graduate adviser Preston Decker (Louis Cancelmi), she is slowly rebuilding her life. The story shows her daily life and her reunion with Lydie (Naomi Ackie), her best friend and former roommate who now lives in the city with her husband and a baby on the way.
Their reunion, which was full of love, humor, and being honest about how they feel, slowly helps Agnes deal with her trauma. In spite of what happened, Agnes still teaches in the same program and lives in the house she used to live in when she was in graduate school. At the same time, Lydie’s life has changed a lot. People who watch don’t see flashbacks to the assault; instead, they hear Agnes’s honest, detailed, and deeply moving words about it.
The movie jumps between now and then. It shows how complicated Agnes’s relationship with her professor was and how he crossed lines in sneaky ways. Agnes doesn’t know what to do after the attack: call the police, tell the college about it, or just try to forget about it. She feels hurt, angry, and doubtful, and she feels betrayed all the time.
Even though the subject is serious, Sorry, Baby is full of humor and real connections between people. What happened doesn’t make Agnes who she is. In the meantime, she keeps teaching, making new friends, and growing. The bond she has with Lydie still brings her comfort and strength.
The story doesn’t try to make trauma seem exciting; instead, it’s about what happens afterward—on surviving, on friendship, and on how life goes on in small, often painful, but strong steps.
WHERE WAS SORRY, BABY FILMED?
Filming for SORRY, BABY took place in March 2024 across several towns in Massachusetts, giving the fictional New England college town a lived-in and realistic feel. The production was anchored primarily in Ipswich, Massachusetts, with scenes also shot in Bedford, Essex, Gloucester, Lawrence, Lowell, Rockport, and Salem.
IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS
Most notably, Ipswich served as the heart of the movie’s setting. The picturesque coastal town, known for its colonial history and scenic views, doubled as the fictional town where Agnes lives and works. Interior and exterior scenes were filmed at a County Street residence owned by local resident Alli Comeau. Residents were notified of the production schedule in advance, and many expressed pride in seeing their hometown portrayed on screen.
One key beach and lighthouse scene, which captivated viewers for its haunting beauty, was also reportedly shot in or near Ipswich. Shatswell School at 27 County Street, Ipswich was used as a filming location. While some viewers have speculated about Gloucester or even Rockport, Maine, local reports confirm Ipswich played a significant role in creating that cinematic moment.
ESSEX AND J.T. FARNHAM’S
The nearby town of Essex also played host to the production. A standout filming location here was J.T. Farnham’s Famous Fried Clams, a local seafood spot that was transformed into a fictional sandwich shop named Sandy Pete’s Sandwiches for the film. The production team changed the restaurant’s well-known yellow signage for filming, helping immerse the audience in the fictional world.
LOWELL, LAWRENCE, GLOUCESTER, SALEM
Additional scenes were filmed in the urban centers of Lowell and Lawrence, which provided contrasting visuals to the more serene Ipswich and Essex. These towns helped build the academic and personal world Agnes inhabits, possibly including university interiors and other institutional backdrops. Meanwhile, Gloucester, known for its rugged coastline and fishing harbors, may have contributed exterior shots involving waterfront or lighthouse scenes, although exact locations remain unconfirmed.
Salem and Rockport also added flavor to the overall setting, likely offering visual texture to establish the college town atmosphere or brief interstitial scenes.
A PRODUCTION ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
From changing the signage of a local eatery to working closely with residents for smooth filming, the production of SORRY, BABY was deeply tied to the Massachusetts communities it filmed in. The choice to use real towns instead of sets added a level of realism to the story, grounding its emotional weight in everyday locations.
Director Eva Victor, who shadowed Jane Schoenbrun during the making of I Saw the TV Glow to prepare for this project, brought those lessons into her direction of SORRY, BABY. Her thoughtful storytelling paired with the natural beauty and charm of these Massachusetts towns gave the film its distinct visual tone.
While there is no confirmed wide release date as of yet, the film is still seeking distribution — but interest is high, especially after the strong buzz generated at Sundance.
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