Venice, Italy – Nicole Kidman’s latest film, Babygirl, is already making waves at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. The erotic drama, directed by Halina Reijn, has garnered significant buzz and is being tipped for awards recognition.
Kidman, who stars as a high-powered CEO entangled in a passionate affair with a younger intern, expressed her hope that Babygirl serves as a “liberating story” for audiences. The film delves into themes of desire, secrets, marriage, and the complexities of power dynamics.
“It’s obviously about sex, but it’s also about desire,” Kidman explained at a press conference. “It’s about your inner thoughts, it’s about secrets, it’s about marriage, it’s about truth, power, consent.”
Director Halina Reijn emphasized the importance of the “female gaze” in Babygirl. “This is one woman’s story and this is, I hope, a very liberating story,” she said. “It’s told through a woman’s gaze, and that’s to me what made it so unique… It was freeing.”
Reijn also highlighted the significance of addressing the “orgasm gap” between men and women. “For women, we have not gotten a lot of space yet to explore this behavior,” she stated. “Not only how strong we are, but also how weak we sometimes are.”
Harris Dickinson, who co-stars alongside Kidman, shared that an intimacy coordinator was present on set to ensure a safe and comfortable working environment. Kidman praised Reijn’s approach, stating, “I knew she wasn’t going to exploit me. There was enormous caretaking by all of us, we were all very gentle with each other and helped each other. It felt very authentic, protected and, at the same time, real.”
Also, Read: The 10 Best Nicole Kidman Movie Performances
As Babygirl makes its debut at Venice, Nicole Kidman expressed her anticipation and excitement for the film’s reception. “Right now we’re all a bit nervous,” she admitted. “But at the same time, I’m really proud to be at a festival like this, and to be forging ahead with films that are still being made – and particularly with women at the helm.”
Babygirl is set for a December 25 release by A24.
