Nicole Kidman Steamy Pic ‘Babygirl’ Wows Venice Film Festival Crowd at World Premiere

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As a cinephile with a penchant for the thrilling and erotic, I can confidently say that the Venice Film Festival delivered a treat with Halina Reijn’s Babygirl. The world premiere was nothing short of electric, with the capacity crowd at Sala Grande giving an extended standing ovation to the cast, particularly the captivating Nicole Kidman. Her arrival was as stunning as ever, gracing us with her presence in a Schiaparelli Couture creation that would make even the most fashion-forward swoon.

The Venice Film Festival finally got to meet Halina Reijn’s Babygirl.

The A24-produced erotic thriller made its global debut in Palazzo del Cinema on Lido’s Friday night, with Sala Grande housing a packed audience. As the film concluded, the crowd leaped to their feet, offering a thunderous standing ovation for lead actress Nicole Kidman and her co-stars Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas, and Sophie Wilde. The audience remained on their feet as the credits unfurled, showering the cast with heartwarming applause, cheers, and cries of excitement – particularly for Kidman. The ovation persisted unabated for a staggering seven minutes, as rhythmic clapping and cheering echoed throughout the theater, greeting Kidman as she rose, waved to the audience, and exited the building. “You nailed it!” one spectator shouted. “You absolutely killed it in that erotic thriller!”

The affection between Kidman and her fans sparked immediately upon their arrival at the event. As she stepped out, adorned in an eye-catching Schiaparelli Couture outfit – a corset bustier in nude organza embellished with black sequins flowing into black tassels – fans couldn’t help but erupt with excitement. Accompanying her nude organza top was a long black velvet skirt and stilettos. Kidman shared a heartfelt hug with Reijn, who was dressed in a white cape, while Dickinson donned a suit by Bottega Veneta and Wilde made a bold statement in a custom Loewe look featuring a black silk veil.

The highly-anticipated event was bustling with stars, primarily due to Armani’s warm invitation extended to numerous ambassadors and house guests such as Camila Mendes, Lili Reinhart, Chase Stokes, Ella Purnell, Odeya Rush, Ncuti Gatwa, Madisin Rian, Kaya Scodelario, Eva Green, and others.

In this drama titled “Babygirl,” we follow Romy, a sophisticated CEO residing in New York City, who risks both her career and family by embarking on a passionate relationship with a younger intern. Nicole Kidman portrays the executive, a woman who has never known genuine pleasure with her loving husband, played by Antonio Banderas. Dickinson takes on the role of Samuel, the staff member, while Wilde assumes the character of Esme, Romy’s assistant. Reijn helms this 108-minute film, directing from a script she penned herself and co-producing with David Hinojosa and Julie Oh. The film under A24’s banner is scheduled for release on Christmas Day.

As a gaming enthusiast diving into the world of filmmaking, I draw significant inspiration from the seductive thrillers of the ’90s, particularly the masterpieces crafted by Paul Verhoeven. Movies like “Basic Instinct,” “Fatal Attraction,” “9 1/2 Weeks,” and “Indecent Proposal” not only captivated me during their release but also made me feel understood in an odd way, despite being created by men with sometimes questionable portrayals of women. My goal is to bridge the so-called “orgasm gap” in Hollywood, aiming to create more authentic and empowering representations of female sexuality.

In a subsequent discussion, Reijn, known for directing the film “Bodies Bodies Bodies” under A24, expressed his observation that there appears to be a cultural shift moving away from sexuality due to fear. However, he believes that there is a widespread desire and craving for it, a desire to depict sex honestly and find humor in it. He points out that while we have established new guidelines on consent, which are vital and crucial, people remain instinctual creatures. Consequently, he suggests that the impulse to create such movies comes from this need to explore our animalistic nature more openly.

At Friday’s press conference, Nicola Kidman began by expressing that the story is liberatingly told from a woman’s perspective, exploring topics such as desire, inner thoughts, marriage, truth, power, and consent. She described it as a “deeply freeing” experience to work with a female director like Reijn. Critical acclaim is already rolling in, with THR‘s top film critic David Rooney commending Kidman for her fearless portrayal, both physically and psychologically.

“What really drew me in was working with Halina as my director, because I trusted her not to take advantage of me. In any interpretation, I never felt exploited. Instead, I felt fully involved. It was the story I wanted to be a part of, the story I wanted to share, and I gave it my all.”

In regards to Kidman, Dickinson extolled her as a true “living icon.” He further noted, “As I developed my character, I focused on portraying his confusion as a young man, embodying his generation. Moreover, we were fortunate to have an exceptional intimacy coordinator who guided us expertly throughout the process.”

On the night before revealing her movie “Babygirl” to the world, she confessed to feeling exposed, vulnerable, and terrified. However, she may now be experiencing some sense of relief following the audience’s response. The red-hot invitation for the film’s premiere at Hotel Cipriani, a legendary venue during this year’s festival, is being hosted by A24.

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2024-08-30 22:26