Babygirl                4 stars

The newly released Babygirl starring Nicole Kidman (one of my favorite actresses) has to be one of the most sexually charged movies of the year. Written and directed by Dutch filmmaker, Halina Reijns (who previously brought us Bodies Bodies Bodies (where we enjoyed seeing Pete Davidson die!)), it features a May December relationship between Kidman’s Romy, the CEO of a major tech company and new intern, Samuel (Harris Dickinson), and raises the question of who controls who. Romy appears to have a happy home life with theater director husband Jacob (Antonio Banderas) and two teenage daughters, but we sense that something is missing when we see her watching porn. One day she spots a young man outside who is instantly able to calm down an aggressive dog. Then later she meets him in her office with a group of newly hired interns. He makes some rather odd and inappropriate comments which get Romy’s attention. Later, in a bar, he sends her a glass of milk which she immediately downs, suggesting that she is interested. This is only the beginning as the two secretly meet at Samuel’s urging, where he literally has her lapping milk from a saucer on the floor. Although very young, Samuel is an expert at manipulation through seemingly innocent comments and looks. You get the feeling that he has done this before. Romy objects to this arrangement and the way he treats her, only something makes us think that she doesn’t really mean it. Perhaps this is meeting the sexual satisfaction she is missing at home. The movie tackles the subject of sexual repression and puts a different spin on harassment in the workplace with the subordinate being the one who is exercising control over the boss. Kidman has led the way in portraying characters who have a certain vulnerability but lean toward the kinky. Remember Eyes Wide Shut and The Killing of a Sacred Deer! She displays a wide range of emotions from reluctance to confusion to anger to shame. The movie has a reasonable outcome to the whole situation without delving into stalker mode and only using a little violence. I was impressed but some movie goers might prefer the stalker route. The movie is bound to get some conversations going about control and consent and when do things go too far. Of course, the movie is another example of the wide acting talent of a great actress, Nicole Kidman.