Babygirl is a thriller with a very erotic undertone which stars Nicole Kidman as Romy Mathis, the CEO of a major robotic automation company who has an affair with Samuel (Harris Dickinson) one of the company’s interns. As the relationship develops, Samuel starts dominating Romy in bed and then outside of it as well. He is not above blackmail either, threatening to expose her if she doesn’t acquiesce.
The premise is an interesting one particularly in an age where office politics and power dynamics in the work force have come under scrutiny.
Romy is a tough talking and powerful executive yet she risks her entire career and marriage by having an affair. If the truth comes out, she will be seen as the abuser of power despite Samuel initiating the entire situation and indeed threatening her.
Why we must ask, would such a supposedly powerful woman get into such as situation – it is because basically she (and by extension all of us) governed by our passions? Or is it something deeper?
These are interesting notions, and when power dynamics enter the sexual and interpersonal realm we often search for that deeper reason. It is here, in its handling of the sexual themes that the film falters.
The sex/domination scenes are I supposed meant to mirror or underscore central themes around power – a reflection of dynamics in the wider world from business and politics and to a myriad of human relationships. But in Babygirl this seems clumsy and awkward.
There seems to be a moral judgement about the couple engaging in BDSM activities that feels outdated and reductionist – as though playing with this kind of thing is unnatural or only done because one or both have deep-seated ‘problems’ that need resolving. The actual scenes themselves feel awkward and cliched. There seemed a lack of true emotion or even connection between these characters and instead a concentration on power and power alone was the only basis of them being together.
I just didn’t buy it.
With a little more thought and depth I think this could have been a brilliant film and an exploration of human desire. But without an element of playfulness for me it just felt empty.
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, Antonio Banderas
Directed by: Halina Reijn
Duration: 115 Minutes
Open in New Zealand – 29 December 2024
So how did I score it?
Acting 7 /10
Story/Script 6/10
Cinematography 7/10
Set/Costumes 7 / 10
Entertainment value 6 / 10
That gives Babygirl an average score of 6.6 / 10
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