‘Babygirl’ Director Says the Film Is a Response to ‘Eyes Wide Shut’

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As a film critic with a background in theater and a penchant for exploring the complexities of women’s stories, I found ‘Babygirl’ to be a captivating and thought-provoking piece that delves deep into the psyche of its protagonist. The parallels drawn between this film and Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Eyes Wide Shut‘ are intriguing and thoughtfully executed, offering a refreshing perspective on a familiar narrative.

Viewers might have spotted some resemblances between “Babygirl”, Nicole Kidman’s latest movie portraying a CEO with an affair with one of her young interns (played by Harris Dickinson), and “Eyes Wide Shut”, a film from 1999 that starred Kidman alongside then-husband Tom Cruise and director Stanley Kubrick. Both movies share themes of passionate explorations of illicit affairs happening around Christmas time. As stated by the movie’s writer-director Halina Reijn, these parallels are not accidental; her film engages in a dialogue with the thought-provoking masterpiece by Kubrick, but instead of focusing on a man, the protagonist in Reijn’s film is a woman who is looking for sexual fulfillment outside her marriage.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Reijn shared her inspiration behind the script for “Babygirl”. She was intrigued by a particular scene in the movie “Eyes Wide Shut”, where Kidman’s character, Alice, confides to her husband William (played by Cruise) about a fantasy she had during their vacation. In this fantasy, Alice slept with a man from a bar, and William reacted negatively. Curious about how the story might unfold if Alice acted on her fantasy, Reijn conceptualized “Babygirl”. In her own words:

From a cinephile’s standpoint, I find myself pondering on the theme of matrimony and its constraints – specifically monogamy. Does one truly own another or should they be allowed to explore their individuality? We, as spectators, remain oblivious to Alice’s inner turmoil. Our perspective is wholly immersed in William’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I can’t help but wonder, ‘What if she had ventured out and truly lived her desires?’ That’s the intriguing question this movie poses – my playful and humble response to the male interpretation of ‘Eyes Wide Shut.’ It’s high time we women get a glimpse into stories that reflect our emotions and experiences.

‘Babygirl’ Was Almost a Summer Movie Release

Regarding the holiday ambiance, the movie “Eyes Wide Shut” also served as inspiration, even though it wasn’t initially Reijn’s intention to set the film during Christmas. This decision was made due to the writers’ and actors’ union strikes in the summer of 2023, which pushed production to the winter season instead.

As a passionate cinephile, I had crafted a summer flick set against the picturesque backdrop of the Hamptons. However, fate had other plans when an unexpected strike struck, forcing me to postpone its release until Christmas. To be completely candid, it left me feeling quite disheartened and melancholic. I yearned for the quaint charm of white picket fences in the Hamptons, reminiscent of ‘The Truman Show‘ – a classic summer tale. Yet, in a moment of desperation, I found solace in revisiting ‘Eyes Wide Shut.‘ It sparked an epiphany within me: ‘Ah, it’s possible! You can create a profound, captivating movie with Christmas carols, trees, and all the holiday magic.’

Another significant influence on the movie “Babygirl” was the play “Hedda Gabler”, as it’s the production that Romy’s husband, Jacob (played by Antonio Banderas), is staging in the film.

Ultimately, ‘Hedda Gabler’ explores a character who sacrifices her life in pursuit of rebirth. My film serves as a reinterpretation of this story, where Romy initially feels confined within marriage, but eventually realizes she’s imprisoned by herself, much like Hedda. However, unlike the original, our movie portrays Romy choosing to live and not succumbing to suicide. As a stage actress, I grew tired of the recurring theme of characters seeking freedom only to end up dead. With this film, we aim to depict a woman who breaks free from her shackles and continues to thrive.

Babygirl lands in theaters on December 25, 2024.

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2024-12-24 01:34