January 15, 2026 – I had already seen most of the year's top movie when awards season rolled around, except some in the category of “Best Debut Feature.” My nomination, “Code 3” did not make the OFCS list, but this one did, and it is a good film.

Eva Victor has gotten off to a smashing start in her feature debut, writing, directing and starring in this film about a woman dealing with traumatic emotions following a rape. It is a bit of an arty film, but is more watchable than some, despite its non-linear, talky nature.

Eva stars as Agnes Ward, a professor at a small liberal arts college where she was once a student. She is visited by her old college roommate, and best friend, Lydie (played by Naomie Ackie of “Mickey 17”) who has moved to New York. She learns that Lydie is pregnant and Lydie learns that Agnes got the professor position.

In a flashback scene, we learn about the rape that happened while Agnes was still a student. This explains Lydie's reaction to the fact that Agnes is working at the same school, and has the same office as the man who raped her. Nobody knows about the rape except for Lydie and a doctor who examined her the day after the assault. The assault was not reported to the police, but some school officials find out about it afterward and tell Agnes there is nothing they can do about it.

Flashing forward in time again, three years after the rape, Agnes finds out that another student, Natasha (Kelly McCormack of “Problemista”) had sex with the same man who raped her, she has a strong PTSD reaction to the news. What follows is a very nice scene between her and a sandwich shop owner, Pete (John Carroll Lynch of “She Rides Shotgun”). Pete discovers she is hyperventilating, and calms her down.

Agnes is also befriended by a neighbor, Gavin (Lucas Hedges of “Ben is Back”) who knows nothing of Agnes trauma. Agnes is also befriended by a stray cat that she takes in. When the cat catches a mouse in her house, this sets off another emotional episode that seems to help Agnes deal with her anger. Later, when Lydie visits with her wife Fran (E. R. Fightmaster) and their baby, Agnes offers to babysit for them while they take a walk along a scenic nearby shore. Agnes talks to the baby and says that if anything bad happens in the future, she is willing to lend a sympathetic ear.

This story about the emotional toll of rape approaches the trauma in an indirect and subtle, but effective way. The acting is very strong in this movie, headed up by Victor, with powerful supporting performances by Ackie, Hedges, Lynch and McCormack, who plays a comically blunt, unlikable character. Victor's first movie is a good one, showing promise for the future. This movie rates a B.

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