KT 102: Babygirl (Halina Reijn, 2024)
What's up with Babygirl?
In what is turning into one of our busiest months on record, this Thursday we present pieces on two films that were beloved upon their festival debuts on Lido Island (Venice FF) but may not have found the same adulation upon arriving in Australia.
This week, Zari Moss discusses the Nicole Kidman-starrer Babygirl, and Eddie Hampson explores Guadagnino’s adaptation of Burroughs’ Queer.
Babygirl
Halina Reijn, 2024
DCP Courtesy: A24
Classification: MA 15+
Screening in most arthouse and some mainstream cinemas
Words by Zari Moss
Babygirl opens with a monumental fake orgasm. After having sex with her handsome, adoring, and seemingly successful playwright husband Jacob (Antonio Banderas), Romy, CEO and the titular Babygirl (Nicole Kidman) runs down the hall of their sleek NYC apartment, pulling on the first of many mini silk slips, to masturbate to daddy porn. She covers her mouth to muffle her moans, presumably so that her husband doesn’t hear, even as she plays the porn out loud on her laptop. And so begins Romy’s dance between repressing and expressing her desires.
Romy ‘has it all’ - incandescent career, doting husband, a cheerful younger daughter, an older daughter with a healthy cynicism about her mother’s priorities. Romy’s life is portrayed in a confluence of glossy images. Sex scenes bleed into scenes of domesticity which abruptly cut to Romy speaking into a camera about what it is to be the CEO of a robotics automation business. At first the company seems like an arbitrary choice made to place the story in the contemporary, but as the narrative develops, it becomes clear that her line of work shades larger questions of real/true versus fake/fantasy.
Romy is the creator of the ultimate modern fantasy, the She-EO. She demonstrates this first in her hyper feminine but controlled appearance. Pastels and hair tendrils around the face soften the high necked collars that contain her. As we watch her approach her work in a pale grey, characteristically high collared ensemble we get the impression she is completely within her element, until a viscous dark dog approaches her and she is visibly stricken. The sumptuous fabric of her life could tear easily under such a threat. Fortunately, a tall stranger in a khaki anorak calls the dog away from her with a commanding voice. A promising beginning to a smutty story.
Enter Samuel (Harris Dickinson), who stares her down with an insolent and slightly awkward charisma. Of course, later that morning he is introduced as one of the new interns. She offers all the interns her welcome and gives a perfunctory offer to answer any questions any time. Samuel takes the opportunity to interject.
“I have a question. Do you really believe automation could provide a path to sustainability or is that something people say to make you like robots?” The interns snicker and are ushered out by Romy’s assistant Esme (Sophie Wilde). But he poses a question she seems to be begging to be asked about whether she really believes in the dream life she has built.
In any case, it is her beautiful life that provides the stakes for the affair that ensues. Samuel pursues Romy with simultaneous persistence and nonchalance, while Romy responds by teetering between resisting and submitting. It takes some hesitation to get there, but once Samuel and Romy finally find themselves in a cheap hotel with utterly inspired interior design, she still resists.
“Maybe take your clothes off?” Samuel offers, after putting her in sexy time out, facing the in the corner of the room.
“No, I don’t want to.”
“That's fine.” He laughs nervously, along with most of the theatre patrons around me.
One of the friends who saw the film with me complained it wasn’t sexy enough. She’s right. While Kidman and Dickinson do smoulder together, they do so jankily, with false starts, fumbling through BDSM. The film is more of a meditation on the emergent nature of desire and once revealed, our quandaries about whether or not to let it emerge, than it is a soft porn bonanza. Each moment of tension, or possible revelation fizzles to little consequence. Perhaps this is part of the film’s central thesis; that transgressive sex may disrupt ordinary life, but does not have to lead to utter catastrophe.
Nicole Kidman’s pre-eminence as a worshipped, maligned, and botoxed public figure and her performance in Eyes Wide Shut are an essential element of the film. It’s easy to imagine Kidman as this fragile, powerful woman with a lot to lose. This intertextuality provides a more substantial context to the sexual dynamic than the vague references to Romy’s upbringing in a cult that are supposed to explain the strength of her desire to submit (as if that desire isn’t universal). Unlike Eyes Wide Shut, Babygirl is not an erotic thriller. The scenes of Samuel and Romy watching each other, or tension in the air when someone disrupts their chemistry, or the near exposure of their affair are allowed to fall flat in a way that only adds to the corporate comedy overtone of Babygirl.
Babygirl is a film that asks more questions than it answers. The narrative is made up of an unconventional sequence of events that don’t build towards any of the satisfying payoffs we might be accustomed to expect, much like an affair itself. It does, however, explore the preoccupations of the contemporary affluent about sex, mechanization, and above all, how to deal with the crushing modern philosophy of living out our desires.
Listings | Thursday 20 Feb - Wednesday 26 Feb
Notable Screenings
Grand Theft Hamlet
Sam Crane & Pinny Grylls, 2024
Screening Tonight (Sold Out)
Anna Kipervaser: in person with AFW
See AFW listing below
The General (with live score)
Buster Keaton, 1926
Screening Sun 23 at TPH
Gay24 (FREE)
Lesbian Avengers Eat Fire Too
Su Friedrich & Janet Baus, 1993
+
Transexual Menace
Rosa von Praunheim, 1996
Screening at Flippy’s on Wed 26 Feb at 7.30pm
Inside Q&A
Charles Williams, 2024
Mon 24 at Pentridge
Wild at Heart (FREE)
David Lynch, 1990
Screening Wed 26 at Misc
New Films in Release
Bird
Andrea Arnold, 2024
Screening Daily
The Last Showgirl
Gia Coppola, 2024
Screening Daily
Grand Theft Hamlet
Sam Crane & Pinny Grylls, 2024
Screening Tonight (Sold Out)
Short Film Visions
Discovery Shorts
Various directors, 20224
Screening Thurs 20
Experimental Shorts
Various directors, 20224
Screening Fri 21
Comedy Shorts
Various directors, 20224
Screening Sat 22
Narrative Shorts
Various directors, 20224
Screening Sat 22
Documentary Shorts
Various directors, 20224
Screening Sat 23
Focus on David Lynch
Blue Velvet
David Lynch, 1986
Screening Fri 21
The Elephant Man
David Lynch, 1980
Screening Fri 22
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
David Lynch, 1992
Screening Sunday 16
Lost Highway
David Lynch, 1997
Screening Fri Mon 24
Matinees
Red Island
Robin Campillo, 2023
Screening Fri to Sat
No screening this week
Anna Kipervaser: in person with AFW
With The Tide, with the tide
2022 | 16mm | sound | 2:49
Next Her Heart
2023 | 16mm | sound | 12:00
And By The Night
2017 | 16mm | silent | 9:45
Бабушка Галя и Дедушка Аркадий // Grandma Galya and Grandpa Arkadiy
2023 | 16mm | sound | 4:25
The Order of Revelation: 23-30
2017 | 16mm | silent | 28:00
8pm Tuesday 25th February
The Brunswick Green, 313/315 Sydney Rd, Brunswick.
16mm projection. $10 at the door.
Here’s your corrected listing with directors and years added:
Mulholland Drive
David Lynch, 2001
Screening Thurs 20, Tues 25
Nemesis - Oliver Gruner Live
Albert Pyun, 1992
Screening Fri 21
Lost Highway
David Lynch, 1997
Screening Fri 21
Eraserhead
David Lynch, 1977
Screening Fri 21 (Midnight), Sat 22
The Short Films of David Lynch
David Lynch, Various
Screening Sat 22
Dune
David Lynch, 1984
Screening Sat 22
Blue Velvet
David Lynch, 1986
Screening Sat 22, Wed 26
The Straight Story
David Lynch, 1999
Screening Sun 23
Inland Empire
David Lynch, 2006
Screening Mon 24
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
David Lynch, 1992
Screening Tues 25
Wild at Heart
David Lynch, 1990
Screening Wed 26
BBBC CINEMA (GALLERYGALLERY BRUNSWICK)
Closed until further notice
Best Films You’ve Never Seen
Seven Samurai
Akira Kurusawa, 1954
Screening Tues 25
CHINATOWN CINEMA
Ne Zha 2
Yang Yu, 2025
Screening Daily
Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants
Tsui Hark, 2025
Screening on the weekend only
Creation of the Gods II: Demonic Confrontation
Wuershan, 2025
Screening Daily
Coming back in some variety soon
No screening this week
Events / Previews
Every Little Thing
Sally Aitken
Q&A screening Fri 21 Feb
I’m Still Here (Advance Screenings)
Walter Sallas, 2024
Previewing Fri- Sun
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Advance Screenings)
Mohammad Rasoulof
Previewing Fri- Sun
The Last Journey (Advance Screenings)
Filip Hammar, Fredrik Wikingsson, 2024
Previewing Fri- Sun
Hard Truths (Advance Screenings)
Mike Leigh, 2024
Previewing Fri- Sun
Inside (Advance Screenings)
Charles Williams, 2024
Previewing Fri- Sun
Release
Bird
Andrea Arnold, 2024
Screening Fri, Sat, Sun
The Last Showgirl
Gia Coppola, 2024
Screening Daily
Soundtrack to a Coup D ‘État
Johan Grimonprez, 2024
Screening Daily
Black Box Diaries
Shiori Ito, 2024
Screening Daily
Grand Tour
Miguel Gomes, 2024
Screening Daily
Queer
Luca Guadanigno, 2024
Screening Daily
Babygirl
Halina Reijn, 2024
Screening Daily
A Complete Unknown
James Mangold, 2024
Screening Daily
The Brutalist
Brady Corbet, 2024
Screening Daily
Maria
Pablo Larraín, 2025
Screening Daily
Presence
Steven Soderbergh, 2025
Screening Daily
Becoming Led Zeppelin
Bernard MacMahon, 2025
Screening Daily
Conclave
Edward Berger, 2024
Screening Daily
September 5
Tim Fehlbaum, 2025
Screening Daily
Nosferatu
David Eggers, 2024
Screening Daily
Anora
Sean Baker, 2024
Screening Daily
We Live in Time
John Crowley, 2024
Screening Daily (Excl Friday)
Sing Sing
Greg Kwedar, 2025
Screening Daily
Emilia Perez
Jacques Audiard, 2025
Screening Daily
Better Man
Michael Gracey, 2024
Screening Daily
All We Imagine As Light
Payal Kapadia, 2024
Screening Daily
The Room Next Door
Pedro Almodóvar, 2024
Screening Mon-Wed, Thu, Fri
Wicked
John M. Chu, 2024
Screening Thurs, Sun-Wed
Heretic
Scott Beck, Bryan Woods, 2024
Screening Daily (Excl Sunday)
A Different Man
Aaron Schimberg, 2024
Screening Mondays
Memoir of a Snail
Adam Elliot, 2024
Screening Daily
Memory
Michel Franco, 2023
Screening Daily
There’s Still Tomorrow
Paola Cortellesi, 2024
Screening Daily
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat, 2024
Screening Daily
Kneecap
Rich Peppiatt, 2023
Screening Daily
DOGMILK DEGUSTATIONS: @ Miscellania
No screening this week
No screening this week
GAY24 (Bar Flippy’s)
Lesbian Avengers Eat Fire Too
Su Friedrich & Janet Baus, 1993
+
Transexual Menace
Rosa von Praunheim, 1996
Screening at Flippy’s on Wed 26 Feb at 7.30pm
HITLIST (9 Gertrude St, Fitzroy)
No screening this week
LIDO / CLASSIC / CAMEO
Events
Europa! Europa! Film Festival
Lido and Classic Cinemas
Program here
General Release
Bird
Andrea Arnold, 2024
Screening Daily
The Last Showgirl
Gia Coppola, 2024
Screening Daily
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Michael Morris, 2025
Screening Daily
A Complete Unknown
James Mangold, 2024
Screening Daily
Queer
Luca Guadanigno, 2024
Screening Daily
Babygirl
Halina Reijn, 2024
Screening Daily
Grand Tour
Miguel Gomes, 2024
Screening Daily
Widow Clicquot
Paul Verhoeven, 2023
Screening Daily
Conclave
Edward Berger, 2024
Screening Daily
The Brutalist
Brady Corbet, 2024
Screening Daily
Nosferatu
David Eggers, 2024
Screening Daily
Anora
Sean Baker, 2024
Screening Daily
We Live in Time
John Crowley, 2024
Screening Daily
A Real Pain
Jesse Eisenberg, 2024
Screening Daily
Emilia Perez
Jacques Audiard, 2025
Screening Daily
OVA CLUB
No screening this week
David Lynch Retrospective
Wild at Heart (FREE)
David Lynch, 1990
Screening Wed 26
Program from 7pm | Screening from 8.30pm
THE MELBOURNE CINÉMATHÈQUE (ACMI)
Come Drink with Me
King Hu, 1966
Screening from 7pm
+
The Fate of Lee Khan
King Hu, 1973
Screening from 8.50pm
MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY: SCREENING IDEAS
No screening this week
PALACE BALWYN / BRIGHTON / COMO / KINO / PENTRIDGE / MOONEE PONDS / WESTGARTH
Events / Previews
Mulholland Drive
David Lynch, 2001
Screening at most Palace cinemas on Feb 20 and 25
Inside Q&A
Charles Williams, 2024
Mon 24 at Pentridge
I’m Still here
Walter Salles, 2024
Previewing at all Palace sites on Feb 26
Hard Truths
Mike Leigh, 2024
Previewing at all Palace sites on Feb 26 (cheaper for members)
General Release
Bird
Andrea Arnold, 2024
Screening Daily
The Last Showgirl
Gia Coppola, 2024
Screening Daily
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Michael Morris, 2025
Screening Daily
A Complete Unknown
James Mangold, 2024
Screening Daily
Queer
Luca Guadanigno, 2024
Screening Daily
Babygirl
Halina Reijn, 2024
Screening Daily
Grand Tour
Miguel Gomes, 2024
Screening Daily
Widow Clicquot
Paul Verhoeven, 2023
Screening Daily
Presence
Steven Soderbergh, 2025
Screening Daily
We Live in Time
John Crowley, 2024
Screening Daily
Conclave
Edward Berger, 2024
Screening Daily
Nosferatu
David Eggers, 2024
Screening Daily
Emilia Perez
Jacques Audiard, 2025
Screening Daily
Anora
Sean Baker, 2024
Screening Daily
A Real Pain
Jesse Eisenberg, 2024
Screening Daily
Better Man
Michael Gracey, 2024
Screening Daily
Wicked
John M. Chu, 2024
Screening Daily
The Room Next Door
Pedro Almodóvar, 2024
Screening Daily (Kino)
Paddington in Peru
Dougal Wilson, 2024
Screening Daily
All We Imagine As Light
Payal Kapadia, 2024
Screening Daily (Kino)
Next screening in early March
The Last Showgirl
Gia Coppola, 2024
Screening Daily
Bird
Andrea Arnold, 2024
Screening all days but Fri
A Complete Unknown
James Mangold, 2024
Screening Sat
The General (with live score)
Buster Keaton, 1926
Screening Sun 23
Becoming Led Zeppelin
Bernard MacMahon, 2025
Screening Fri and wed
UNKNOWN PLEASURES @ Thornbury Picture House
No screening this week
Nice review! I wrote a review as well, dealing with Babygirl and shame - might be interested: https://lostcausesandotherconcerns.substack.com/p/playing-with-shame-babygirl-edition