Nicole Kidman’s Daring Return to Indie Cinema in ‘Babygirl’

In recent years, Nicole Kidman has become a fixture of widely watched, beach-read limited series on streaming platforms, cementing her status as a safe bet for audiences. However, her latest film, “Babygirl,” which premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, marks a daring return to the kind of auteurist, risk-taking roles that once defined her career.

Directed by Halina Reijn, “Babygirl” is a spiky, sexy indie film that re-establishes Kidman as one of the most fearless actresses working today. The film opens with Kidman’s character, Romy, a hard-charging chief executive, faking an orgasm with her husband (Antonio Banderas) before retreating to another room to indulge in her true sexual desires – watching S&M porn and bringing herself to a real climax.

Romy’s journey of sexual self-discovery is at the heart of “Babygirl,” as she becomes intrigued by the office intern, Samuel (Harris Dickinson), and the power dynamic they explore in their burgeoning BDSM relationship. Kidman, who has previously appeared in sexually explicit films like “Eyes Wide Shut,” admitted that the intimate scenes in “Babygirl” were a step further than what she’s used to, leaving her feeling “exposed and vulnerable and frightened.”

Director Halina Reijn, known for her work on the horror-comedy “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” was instrumental in coaxing Kidman towards this daring performance. Reijn said the real question of the movie is about reconciliation – can Romy love all of her layers, even the ones she’s ashamed of?

“All beings have a beast living inside,” Reijn said. “For women, we have not gotten a lot of space yet to explore this behavior.”

Dickinson, who is best known for his role in “Triangle of Sadness,” echoed Reijn’s sentiment, describing the sadomasochism sequences as “always nerve-racking” but also “very vulnerable.”

Reijn insisted that sex scenes can be necessary and illuminating if done right, which is why she opens “Babygirl” with a faked orgasm and includes several different real ones as the movie progresses. “The huge orgasm gap still exists. Take note, men!” she said, before excusing her male lead, Dickinson, with the quip, “Not you, Harris.”

Dickinson’s response – “Everyone deserves a good orgasm” – could be seen as the film’s thesis, as “Babygirl” explores the complexities of female sexuality and the societal pressures that often prevent women from fully embracing their desires.

With “Babygirl,” Nicole Kidman has returned to the kind of daring, auteurist roles that once defined her career, reminding audiences of her status as one of the most fearless and versatile actresses working today. The film’s provocative themes and Kidman’s raw, vulnerable performance are sure to spark lively debates when it is released in theaters this Christmas.