Movies - Babygirl: Halina Reijn Reinvents the Erotic Thriller with Nicole Kidman

By Mulder, 31 october 2024

With its first-rate cast and daring direction, Babygirl promises to be one of the most eagerly awaited erotic thrillers in the US this year. This American feature film, written, directed and co-produced by director Halina Reijn, brings together Nicole Kidman in the lead role, accompanied by renowned actors such as Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde and Antonio Banderas. Far from being a conventional thriller, Babygirl explores the dynamics of power and desire in a forbidden romance that upsets professional and moral codes.

Babygirl premiered on August 30, 2024 at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where Nicole Kidman was awarded the prestigious Volpi Cup for Best Actress. This critical success continued at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2024, confirming the impact of this daring and controversial film. A24, the independent studio that financed the project, is responsible for its distribution in the United States, with a scheduled release date of December 25, 2024. French moviegoers will be able to discover the film on January 15, 2025.

In Babygirl, Nicole Kidman plays Romy, an accomplished CEO, married with two children, who becomes embroiled in an intense, passionate affair with Harris Dickinson, who plays a charismatic young intern. This relationship, marked by a wide age gap, opens up a complex dialogue on desire and transgression in a work environment where many things are forbidden. The work questions the limits of power and the grey areas of consent, while highlighting the imperfect human dimension of its protagonists.

The genesis of Babygirl dates back to November 2023, when David Hinojosa of 2AM and Halina Reijn of Man Up Films announced their intention to produce this psychological thriller in partnership with A24. Contrary to initial reports, 2AM's Julia Oh has also taken on a producing role alongside Halina Reijn, while Christine D'Souza Gelb is executive producer. As Halina Reijn 's second English-language feature, the project demonstrates his mastery of a difficult genre where eroticism and psychological tension are intimately intertwined.

For Halina Reijn, the interest of this film lies in the exploration of women's relationships to their own bodies, a theme she wanted to tackle in a bold and realistic way. She also drew on the iconic works of the 80s and 90s, notably those of Paul Verhoeven and Adrian Lyne, two masters of the erotic thriller, to give Babygirl its electric, provocative atmosphere. In order to preserve the authenticity of the intimate scenes, Lizzie Talbot, an intimacy coordinator, was hired, adding a dimension of security and comfort for the actors in this very demanding project.
Production of Babygirl began in December 2023 in New York and ended in February 2024. During this period, Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, and other talented actors such as Jean Reno, John Cenatiempo, Vaughan Reilly, Victor Slezak, Anoop Desai, and Maxwell Whittington-Cooper helped enrich this quality cast. Jasper Wolf's photography and Matthew Hannam's editing add a captivating visual layer, while Cristobal Tapia de Veer's music amplifies the emotional intensity of each scene.

Babygirl is far from a simple forbidden romance. By exploring themes such as power, desire and the risks of self-abandonment, the film questions the social structures that surround and influence our desires. Far from Hollywood standards, Halina Reijn offers a raw vision, both seductive and uncomfortable, of a world where relationships are as intense as they are perilous.

As the French release approaches, audiences are already eager to discover this film, which promises to be as fascinating as it is disturbing. With Nicole Kidman in such a daring role, Babygirl promises to offer a profound and subtle reflection on the limits of desire and obsession, where every choice seems to lead to a deliciously dramatic impasse.

Synopsis:
Romy, CEO of a large company, has everything to be happy: a loving husband, two blossoming daughters and a successful career. But one day, she meets a young intern at the company she runs in New York. She begins a torrid affair with him, risking everything to fulfill her deepest fantasies...

Babygirl
Written and directed by Halina Reijn
Produced by David Hinojosa, Halina Reijn, Julia Oh
With Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, Antonio Banderas
Director of photography: Jasper Wolf
Editing: Matthew Hannam
Music: Cristobal Tapia de Veer
Production companies: A24, 2AM, Man Up Films
Distributed by A24
Release dates: August 30, 2024 (Venice), December 25, 2024 (U.S.), January 6, 2025 (France)
Running time: 114 minutes

Photos : Copyright A24