Nicole Kidman ‘Exposed and Vulnerable’ as Sex Drama Premieres in Venice

VENICE – Nicole Kidman brought her erotic drama “Babygirl” to the Venice Film Festival on Friday, expressing feelings of exposure and nervousness as the intimate work of the set unfolds on the big screen for a global audience.

Kidman, known for a series of risqué films including “Eyes Wide Shut,” which premiered in Venice 25 years ago, shared her anxiety about the reaction to her latest movie. “Babygirl” sees her portraying Romy, a successful New York CEO who risks her career and family by engaging in a passionate affair with a young, ambitious intern.

“Making it with these people here, it was delicate and intimate and very, very deep,” Kidman said. Sitting alongside the director Halina Reijn and co-stars Antonio Banderas, who plays her husband, and Harris Dickinson, her lover, she added, “But this definitely leaves me exposed and vulnerable and frightened … when it’s given to the world. We’re all a bit nervous, so I was like, I hope my hands aren’t shaking.”

Directed by Reijn, “Babygirl” offers a woman’s perspective on the erotic thriller genre, exploring Romy’s unfathomable fantasies within the bounds of her seemingly successful marriage. Reijn, known for her 2022 comedy horror “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” expressed delight in making a film about female desire, describing it also as a narrative about a woman in an existential crisis layered with multiple themes.

“Babygirl” exposes the generational divide in attitudes toward sex in a politically correct society. Dickinson praised the work of the intimacy coordinator who guided the actors through their natural boundaries, stating that constructing any scene can be nerve-wracking, and adding something intimate makes it even more vulnerable.

The tone of the film is set from the beginning, opening with a close-up of Kidman failing to achieve orgasm with her husband, prompting her quest for satisfaction elsewhere. Reijn highlighted the persistent “orgasm gap” and expressed hope that her movie would serve as a tribute to self-love and liberation.

Kidman, an Oscar winner for her role in “The Hours” (2002), has worked with numerous leading male directors. She mentioned her recent commitment to support women filmmakers like Reijn, aiming to shift the balance.

“I’m going to put my weight behind a lot of women now, in terms of directors, to try and change the ratio,” Kidman said.

At this year’s Venice Festival, six out of the 21 films in the main competition were directed by women, including “Babygirl,” a slight increase from last year’s five out of 23 competition movies with female directors.

Source: Reuters