Halina Reijn (Bodies Bodies Bodies) wrote, directed and produced Babygirl, a new film starring Nicole Kidman as Romy. In this erotic drama, she is married to Jacob (Antonio Banderas), a theatre director. They have two daughters, Isabel (Esther McGregor) and Nora (Vaughan Reilly). Romy is the boss of a New York robotics firm. She and Jacob have a sprawling mansion for their family. She appears to be a very capable mom, wearing her apron in the morning as she prepares everyone’s lunch/snacks before they leave for the day. Romy is the picture of a woman who has it all, organized and under control.
Romy also knows how to fake her everyday life and activities, keeping her business successful and yet wanting something quite different. She has a passionate and loving life with Jacob, and when she meets the new interns at the office, things begin to change. There is something about young Samuel (Harris Dickinson) that catches her eye – his boldness and confidence despite his limited experience in the world. Despite trying to keep control of herself, she takes the plunge with an affair that can ruin it all.
Sometimes people can be confused as to what they think they want or need. Oftentimes, we hear people talk about choices individuals make about their partners. “What does she see in him?” would have been an initial question about the actor playing Samuel (Harris Dickinson, Blitz, Where the Crawdads Sing, Triangle of Sadness). Another handsome actor could have been selected, but the role that is given for Samuel is a combination of a young man’s personality. He is trying to strut his stuff, appearing to show he can be an asset at this company, but he can also switch to the streetwise bad boy level to reel women in. Dickinson excels in portraying a character who lives on both sides of the world as he gains more and more of Romy’s time away from the life she has been living.
Now in a torrid affair with this younger man, Romy feels the need for Botox and tight dresses and what she looks like in a room full of younger people like him. Yes, she knows how deep she is in this affair and the reality of it all. Oh, but Samuel is more than ready to discuss company policies at the office. She knows she must keep up appearances of a happy family life and successful boss, but she finds it is harder than she thinks. Coming face to face with the truth with her family, co-worker, and Samuel is also the next level of emotional territory for the characters – each with their own perspectives. Living two lives can be messy and these performances show the audience what it can be like.
So far, Kidman has multiple awards and nominations for her performance, and it is merited.
The film has a Motion Picture Rating (MPA) of R for strong sexual content, nudity and language.
Run time: 1hr 54m
Babygirl premiered at the Venice Film Festival and will be available in theaters December 25, 2024.
Source: A24
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