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Nicole Kidman explores female desire and existential crisis in the provocative and daring Venice Film Festival premiere of Babygirl on Friday, August 30.
Nicole Kidman took a bold step outside her comfort zone with Babygirl, an erotic thriller that premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The film sees the veteran actress portraying Romy, a powerful New York CEO who delves into a tumultuous, sado-masochistic affair with a young intern, played by Harris Dickinson. This risky relationship jeopardizes her marriage to her husband, played by Antonio Banderas, and threatens her family life.
The film opens and closes with intense scenes of passion, taking viewers on a psychological roller-coaster of manipulation and desire. This no-holds-barred exploration of Romy’s sexual and emotional struggles leaves the audience in a state of heightened anticipation.
Nicole Kidman admitted that the role left her feeling “exposed and vulnerable,” sentiments she shared during a press conference before the premiere. “Making it with these people here was delicate, intimate, and very deep,” she added, acknowledging the courage it took to bring such a raw performance to the screen.
Babygirl is one of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion at Venice this year. Directed and written by Dutch filmmaker Halina Reijn, the film dives into the complexities of a woman’s sexual desire while turning traditional power dynamics on their head.
Early reviews have praised Nicole Kidman’s performance, with Variety describing her as “fearless” in a film that authentically captures “women’s erotic experience in the age of control.” IndieWire also lauded the film as a “sexy, darkly funny, and bold piece of work” that revitalizes the seemingly outdated erotic thriller genre, which peaked in the 1980s and 90s with films like Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct.
Photo Credit: Marco Bertorello / AFP
Reijn expressed her excitement about making a film centered on female desire, but she emphasized that Babygirl is also about a woman facing an existential crisis. “It’s a film with many layers,” she said, which was precisely what attracted Nicole Kidman to the project. Reflecting on her career, Nicole Kidman noted that she has always sought to explore the depths of human experience on screen.
Nicole Kidman, who previously delved into similar themes in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut (1999), highlighted the importance of having a female director for Babygirl. “It’s told by a woman through her gaze… that’s what made it so unique and freeing,” she said. The actress, who wore a two-tone Schiaparelli gown on the red carpet, also expressed her commitment to promoting female directors in the industry, aiming to improve the gender balance in filmmaking.
Reijn hopes that Babygirl serves as a tribute to self-love and liberation, ultimately asking the question: “Can I love myself in all my different layers?”
With AFP
Photo Credit: Marco Bertorello / AFP
