After having immediately attracted attention with its preview at the last Venice Film Festival and the victory of the Coppa Volpi for best actress, the film directed by Halina Reijn “Babygirl” once again brings star Nicole Kidman into the spotlight in a bold and transgressive role that hasn’t happened since “Eyes Wide Shut”. Through the sphere of relationships that bind two people who are anagraphically very distant, the title expected in Italy on January 30th observes the erotic dimension outside of normal prejudices, using an original thriller key to reveal the most scabrous aspects of seduction and scandal among the various forms of fantasies and sexual abuse.

In the lead role, Kidman plays Romy, a CEO at the height of her career and with a very proactive character; still in great shape despite several years having passed since she was a young girl. By starting a passionate relationship with a much younger intern, the established executive will put her family and the fruit of her labors at risk, arriving at making decisions that will lead her into the perils of unpredictable situations. A further description of the film came from Kidman herself during the Venice kermesse: "It's about desire, inner thoughts, secrets, marriage, truth, power, consent, language around sex. It's told by a woman through her eyes, and that's what made it so unique. Suddenly, I was in the hands of a woman with this material. It was very profound and liberating to be able to share these things."

Clarifying the reasons that led her to deal with love relationships between very different ages, Reijn recently intervened in an interview with W Magazine. After a quick comparison with some titles that deal with the same themes - such as “May December” or “The Idea of You” - she stated without restraint: “If we see a film where the male actor is not the same age as the female actress, we find it strange. Which is absurd. It should be completely normalized that the age gaps change and that women have different relationships. We are no longer trapped in a box. We internalize the male gaze, we internalize the patriarchy and we have to break free from it. It is really difficult”.

Precisely because of the desire to free herself from a rhetoric that is respectable and strongly influenced by the patriarchy, the director has invested a lot of energy in the sex scenes, portraying them in a way that is different from the typical spirit of Hollywood productions. On this aspect, she added: "I wanted them to be incredibly hot, steamy and fun, but also real. Sexuality is a continuous thing, it's never like a glamorous scene in a Hollywood movie. That's not how it works". Inevitably, Kidman's opinions on the same topics and on the impact they could have on the public were not lacking. In a previous statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar-winning actress revealed that she had adequately prepared herself for the theatrical release, convinced that the film will unleash inevitable inconsistencies and debates on the part of the audience: "Of course, you have to let yourself go and know how to make fun of yourself. It's a typical Australian characteristic, but I think it's a necessary quality to face life. I know who I am and I try to focus on my authentic self. Everything else is out of my control.” She then jokingly added: “But let’s wait and see what happens with the Babygirl memes. I might be terribly upset the next time you talk to me!”

Back on top with a long list of projects under her belt, Kidman said she is living this phase of her career while also taking care of the new generation of actors. In a statement to Variety, after admitting that she had considered taking a break from acting, she revealed: “I have, but in this strange world there are so many opportunities to be of service to people who are starting out, and to use what I have and can do for people like [Babygirl] writer and director Helena Reijn. It’s very hard for me to say, OK, I’m just going to take care of myself, because I’m taking care of other people a lot.”

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