Venice 2024: Discussion with Nicole Kidman Regarding Erotic and Sex-Centric Drama 'Babygirl'
Headline: Babygirl: Nicole Kidman's Daring and Thought-Provoking Performance at Venice Film Festival
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Get ready to talk about one of the most buzzed-about films at this year's Venice Film Festival: Babygirl. Starring the ever-brave and audacious Nicole Kidman, this bold erotic drama has left audiences reeling.
In Babygirl, Kidman takes on the role of Romy, a powerful New York City CEO who risks her career and family life by embarking on an affair with a younger intern. Directed by the fearless Halina Reijn (Bodies, Bodies, Bodies), this film offers a modern, empowering twist on 80s erotic thrillers, with Antonio Banderas as Romy's husband Jacob and Harris Dickinson as the intern, Samuel, shaking things up.
It's fitting that Babygirl would premiere in Venice, as Kidman herself graced the Lido 25 years ago with another boundary-pushing project: Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut.
At the press conference, Kidman spoke about the film, describing it as a "liberating story" that delves into sex, desire, marriage, truth, power, and consent. The film takes on a torrid affair but also underscores the importance of honest and open communication regarding intimacy, desires, and kinks.
"This is one woman's story, and this is, I hope, a very liberating story," said Kidman. "It's told through a woman's gaze, and that's to me what made it so unique... It was freeing."
Reijn expressed a desire for the film to focus on the "female gaze," emphasizing that this focus does not exclude masculinity and power dynamics. She also acknowledged the orgasm gap between men and women and used some of the behaviors in the film as examples.
"For women, we have not gotten a lot of space yet to explore this behavior, not only how strong we are, but also how weak we sometimes are. I was raised by my parents in a way that I don't believe in good and evil, I think we are all both. And we need to keep shining a light on that, because the moment we suppress it, that's when it becomes dangerous."
Babygirl grapples with the duality of human nature and attempts to shine a light without judgment, according to Reijn. "To me, feminism is the freedom to study a woman's vulnerability, love, shame, rage, and inner beast."
Critics shared mixed but ultimately intriguing responses to Babygirl. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter called the film "sexy, dark, and unpredictable" and praised Kidman's performance as "spectacular form"[4]. Xan Brooks from The Guardian criticized the film's thrills as "machine-tooled," but appreciated Kidman's "bright, bold performance."[4]
Regardless of the critics, Babygirl offers an enticing exploration of personal sexuality and power dynamics. With Kidman in the lead, the film promises a performance that will captivate and challenge viewers alike.
Stay tuned to our website Culture for our full review of Babygirl, premiering at the Venice Film Festival and set to be released on December 25 by A24!
References:
- "Nicole Kidman's Babygirl Adds Antonio Banderas, Harris Dickinson, and more." Deadline. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
- Collis, Clark. "2023 CinemaCon Studio Presentation: A24." Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
- "Venice 2022: Complete List of World Premieres." Variety. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
- "Babygirl Review." Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
Related Topics:
- sexual relationships
- film
- Venice Film Festival
- cinema
- Nicole Kidman's career
- Halina Reijn
- erotic thriller
- power dynamics
- female gaze
- orgasm gap
- "Nicole Kidman's daring performance in the erotic thriller Babygirl, directed by Halina Reijn, has sparked both intrigue and debate about masculinity, power dynamics, and the female gaze in the realm of movies and TV shows within the entertainment industry."
- "In Babygirl, audiences will find themselves contemplating the duality of human nature, as Kidman's character, Romy, takes risks in her professional and private life, including an affair with a younger intern, challenging the conventional portrayal of masculinity in the 80s erotic thrillers."
- "By exploring the duality of human nature and the orgasm gap in Babygirl, Reijn aims to liberate audiences, promoting open and honest communication about sex, desires, and kinks, demonstrating that the film is far more than just a torrid affair."
