The story of an adulterous affair, the portrait of a powerful woman, the astonishing observation of the troubles of desire… Babygirl – which earned Nicole Kidman the Best Actress Award at the last Venice Film Festival – is a film as exciting as it is intoxicating.

Twenty-five years after Eyes Wide Shut, Nicole Kidman once again portrays a powerful woman in New York, in a film centered on the question of desire and frustration. But, unlike Stanley Kubrick's last feature film, this time it's her desire, constantly frustrated, despite a benevolent and, it seems, attentive husband (Antonio Banderas, superb in an atypical role). But Romy (Kidman) can't bring herself to say what she wants. It seems inaudible to her, too unhealthy, "abnormal," as she says several times. Especially for the brilliant businesswoman she is, at the head of a successful logistics company, who champions the place of women in a long-standing male-dominated field. But one day, a provocative young intern (the ever-brilliant Harris Dickinson) awakens this buried desire…

Having garnered attention with the excellent *Bodies Bodies Bodies* (2022), Dutch director Halina Reijn makes a powerful comeback with this new feature film. Its slightly perverse plot delights in creating discomfort and raises countless questions about consent to submission in a post-MeToo society. A twisted script with exemplary writing, enhanced by direction that is both pop and virtuosic – the astonishing original score by Cristobal Tapia de Veer, reminiscent of his work on the two seasons of *The White Lotus*, will long be remembered.

But above all, Babygirl is an ode to its lead actress. Nicole Kidman, in her best role in a long time, isn't afraid to play with her image: a long scene shows us all the injections and other treatments her face and body regularly undergo to maintain that perfect, Botoxed look. One character even goes so far as to compare her to a fish, and she resembles a "CEO" Barbie doll that's been allowed to age. But she is nonetheless an emotionally rich, sophisticated, fundamentally intelligent, and ambitious heroine. A woman not a victim of the tyranny of image, but who, rather than rebel, has chosen to play by the rules of society to maintain as many advantages as possible. One could write at length about Babygirl, so subtle and exemplary is this film's analysis of the complexity of our modern world.

BABYGIRL BY HALINA REIJN
RELEASED IN THEATERS ON JANUARY 15, 2025