How ‘Babygirl’ Became an Unexpected Christmas Movie

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As a cinephile who’s seen his fair share of films, I must say that “Babygirl” is shaping up to be a fascinating addition to the erotic thriller genre. The Christmas backdrop adds an unexpected twist that makes it stand out among its peers. Halina Reijn’s ability to adapt her script on such short notice shows both her creativity and resilience, qualities that are highly admirable in any artist.

The movie titled “Babygirl” centers around Nicole Kidman as a CEO who risks her career and family for an affair with a young intern (Harris Dickinson). Interestingly, this film includes an unexpected Christmas setting. This festive backdrop was actually a spontaneous, thematic shift suggested by the writer-director Halina Reijn.

She explained to The Hollywood Reporter during the film’s premiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday that she initially planned it as a summer movie set in the Hamptons, specifically at the beach. However, the writers’ strike occurred, forcing everyone to halt production. Consequently, the project was rescheduled for Christmas. She then thought, ‘This would make an excellent Christmas movie,’ and following the strike, she reworked the entire script to fit the holiday theme.

In many instances, the scenes include extravagant Christmas decorations and festive music, with Reijn noting that this shift held a profound significance for her. The reason being, the character is striving to embody perfection as a woman, mother, and leader. She explained that the traditional American Christmas image resonates strongly with this notion of performance, where joy is present but it’s also performative in nature. Thus, she found it fitting and symbolic for Romy, the main character, as this mirrors the performative aspect of her life.

Kidman mentioned transitioning from a summer scene to holiday settings by saying, “You have to produce your movie, and I’ve always been a supporter of adapting to whatever life throws at you. If you approach everything with a desire to control the situation and rigidity, it won’t succeed. Therefore, being flexible in how you adapt – and having a writer-director who can simply rewrite the script on the spot – is extremely helpful.” Dickinson quipped that he hadn’t considered the Christmas connection until seeing the movie, but “Why not? Happy Holidays!

Reijn shared that the two actors she needed were too prominent for a chemistry reading, so she relied on her instincts instead. She was captivated by Dickinson following his performance in the movie “Triangle of Sadness“.

She shared her fascination with the duo of Kidman and Dickinson. Standing tall and exceptionally gifted, they also possess remarkable strength, and can transform into childlike figures in an instant. She described their unique blend of vulnerability and dominance as essential for our narrative exploring power dynamics.

Nicole Kidman expressed that there was a natural chemistry between herself and her co-star, which was particularly intriguing. Additionally, Antonio Banderas, playing her character’s husband, also played a significant role, as it essentially formed a triangle. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have these talented men who were more than willing to help bring the female protagonist to life.

Reijn too emphasized the importance of having an intimacy coordinator on set, likening their role to that of a stunt coordinator. Without such a professional, he explained, there’s a risk of causing injury to one another, and the resulting scenes might appear awkward and unconvincing.

She explained it’s about enhancing the sexual scenes with greater intensity. This clarity benefits everyone, bringing a sense of tranquility. Since we’re all well-prepared, know our moves perfectly, we can seize the moment, introducing some risk and a hint of danger, yet within a secure environment.

Babygirl hits theaters on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

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2024-12-12 21:54