‘Babygirl’ Director Defends Age Gap in Nicole Kidman Movie

Babygirl’s writer and director, Halina Reijn, talks about the age gap the movie explores, especially in its portrayal of a May-December romance. Reijn was asked in a recent interview with W Magazine if the movie fits in with the increasing number of films that show age-gap relationships, like ‘The Perfect Find’, which starred Gabrielle Union, ‘Lonely Planet’, which starred Laura Dern, and ‘The Idea of You’, which starred Anne Hathaway.

Reijn, 49, stated that she thinks it’s important to mainstream the idea of a large age difference in relationships, particularly when it comes to women. She noted that casting male and female actors of comparable ages together is frequently viewed as odd, calling it “insane.” She went on to say that women should not be bound by social norms, stressing that, even though it can be difficult, it is crucial to reject the internalized male gaze and patriarchy.

Image Courtesy: People

In the film ‘Babygirl’, Nicole Kidman portrays Romy, the married CEO of a tech business who has an affair with Harris Dickinson’s character, Samuel, a much younger intern. The goal of ‘Babygirl’ intimate sequences, according to Reijn, was to be both “hot and steamy” and “real.” The film was made in reaction to steamy movies from the 1990s. She pointed out that sexuality is more “stop-and-go” in real life than the glitzy, idealized sequences frequently found in Hollywood movies from the 1990s.

In a subsequent interview with director Eugene Kotlyarenko for Interview magazine, Reijn disclosed that classic thrillers from the 1990s, including ‘Elle’, ‘Basic Instinct’, ‘9½ Weeks’, ‘Secretary’, and ‘The Piano Teacher’, had an impact on ‘Babygirl’. She made observations about the complicated and frequently repressed relationship that America has with s*x, which she finds sympathetic and uses as a metaphor for her personal hardships.

Image Courtesy: People

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nicole Kidman also discussed her involvement in ‘Babygirl’, revealing that at a certain age, women in the entertainment world are sometimes written off as sexual beings. Being viewed differently in ‘Babygirl’ was “beautiful” to her. Kidman noted that her character is unsure of who she is and what she wants, even if she has authority. She believes that many people can relate to this.

Antonio Banderas also starred in ‘Babygirl’, which is presently showing in theatres.

–Farheen Ali