Venice 2024: Nicole Kidman in "Babygirl"
Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 12:30PM by Elisa Giudici
Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in "Babygirl" (Credit: Niko Tavernise)
I believe that many of the negative reactions about Nicole Kidman's newest film Babygirl stem from a genuine misunderstanding. Personally, I find the polarizing erotic drama to be one of the most successful films in competition, as long as one understands and accepts where it stands and what it's aiming for...
Babygirl explores power dynamics, sadomasochism, and the consensual exchange of power and control but it does this within the confines of contemporary commercial and mainstream American cinema. Those who criticize it for being restrained and lacking courage are overlooking the extent to which eroticism has vanished from the (American) cinematic landscape. If the Dutch director Halina Reijn had intended to push the boundaries of what is permissible in bedroom scenes on the big screen, she wouldn't have chosen this framework or this cast.
On the contrary, Babygirl has a clear mission to normalize and demystify some basic, relatively harmless practices within the realm of sadomasochism. Comparisons to Fifty Shades of Grey—a common critique—reveal how little familiarity there is with these practices and how much the discourse around them remains clouded by stereotypes and preconceived notions.
The real distance between Babygirl and Fifty Shades of Grey—aside from the fact that it's operating on much higher level—lies in the core premise and in who holds the power and indulges in sadomasochistic fantasies. In Fifty Shades, Christian Grey is a wealthy, handsome man whose enjoyment of extreme practices is tied to a backstory of trauma, specifically his fraught relationship with his mother. In Babygirl, Nicole Kidman plays an powerful and accomplished CEO who meets Harris Dickinson, a younger intern with an uncanny ability to tap into her fantasies. But unlike Christian Grey’s sadistic tendencies, Kidman’s character desires submission. She wants to relinquish control, to obey, to become the "good girl" or "faithful dog" to her master. Babygirl very deliberately clarifies that her desire is not born from trauma but intrinsic to her nature. That distinction removes the stigma, suggesting that power dynamics can exist outside the typical narratives of past pain or dysfunction.
At the heart of Babygirl, there is not a destructive or dark perversion, but rather a deeply human need for self-discovery and the reshaping of relationships. Nicole Kidman’s character finds herself transformed by her submissive desires, ultimately achieving a more authentic understanding of her own needs and a renewed connection with her family. Halina Reijn’s writing cleverly subverts the audience’s pessimistic expectations. Instead of leading to a predictable downfall or retribution, the film offers unexpected moments of insight, like a beautifully staged montage exploring boundaries set to George Michael's Father Figure. One standout moment comes when Kidman’s character, in establishing a safe word for her power exchange with Harris Dickinson, chooses “Jacob”—the name of her husband. This layered choice speaks volumes about the complexity of her desires and relationships.
That said, considering the content of Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut thirty years ago which also famously starred Kidman, it’s hard not to feel a tinge of disappointment that Babygirl pulls its punches, despite the visual nods to Kubrick’s work. The melancholic, ever-lit trees and blue lights behind curtains clearly reference Eyes Wide Shut, and while Babygirl deftly navigates its subject matter, it does remain cautious in a way that reflects the current cinematic landscape’s reluctance to fully embrace eroticism. The boundaries of what was once "acceptable" for mainstream, auteur-driven cinema with box office stars have indeed shifted.
Reader Comments (9)
What about the performances? :)
I do want to see this although I don't like the comparisons to those awful Fifty Shades bullshit. Softcore porn films were better than that shit.
I am looking forward to this but the immobility of her face is becoming a problem now when watching her trying to show any sort of emotion,she can do what she likes but it can't be avoided when discussing her work now.
Can You please show me these "MANY NEGATIVE REACTIONS"? Because movie is really well-received (93% in Rotten Tomatoes and 81% on Metacritic) so I am really curious from these sadly not very true opinion is coming?
I cannot wait for this, I am glad Nicole has great role in movie again.
@Mr Ripley79, based on the reviews that I read, there are many close ups of Kidman and all say she shows gamut of emotions so I hope that won't be a problem.
So glad Babygirl has sparked so much interest!
@sadman
They’re good, but I think Demi Moore delivers a stronger performance, especially with award season in mind.
@thevoid99
As explained, those are lazy comparisons. Don’t let them stop you from giving this title a fair chance.
@Michal Andrzejewski
Critics in the USA loved it, but early reactions and reviews from Europe and Asia were quite negative. I'm curious to see what the final consensus will be.
@Mr Ripley79
The movie explains it brilliantly with a scene where she's injected with Botox, and her daughter pokes fun at her for the funny look, so...
Europe and Asia... interesting perspective. Babygirl is high one almost every critic poll at Venice Film Festival. There are some negative words jere and there but absolutely not MANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS. IR sounds like the movie have reception which is not true. You're sadly manipulating with the facts.
@Michal Andrzejewski
On the Venice Daily's international critics' grid, it received the same score (3.25) as *Joker 2*—another film that polarized critics. On the Italian critics' grid, it scored 2.5.
I'm clearly a fan of the movie, and I gave it an enthusiastic review. However, I think it's fair to say that the consensus on this one is far from unanimous.
@Elisa
It’s interesting to hear that botox is written into the story (and makes sense as she plays these affluent modern roles) but the point stands. Her tinkering with her appearance is kind of next-level, beyond what your typical female CEO or rich housewife is doing. Hate to say it but many of them are getting better, less OTT work done to their faces.
Nicole has good years and bad years with it—I think around 2021/2022 she had some significant “interventions” that are showing up in the work she’s promoting now. FWIW she’s looked great at events this year so perhaps things have settled and we’ll be less distracted watching her in 2025/2026. But it never stops.