Nicole Kidman's 'Babygirl': A Twist on Feminism and Kink

2024 was a tough year for women in America, but the movies told a different story. One of the year's biggest hits featured a woman channeling her anger into a fight against fascism in "Wicked. " Demi Moore starred in "The Substance, " a body horror film about the pressure on women to stay young. Amy Adams played a woman going feral in early motherhood in "Nightbitch. " Mikey Madison shone as a post-Soviet sex worker in "Anora. " But the most unexpected feminist film was "Babygirl, " starring Nicole Kidman, which opens on Christmas Day. This kinky movie isn't just a satire of the girlboss archetype; it also supports it.

The director, Halina Reijn, is known for her feminist views. She grew up admiring directors like Adrian Lyne, who made "Fatal Attraction, " a movie about a female stalker with a ticking biological clock. That movie was so anti-feminist that it's featured in Susan Faludi's book "Backlash. " Faludi quoted Lyne saying that feminist professionals aren't truly fulfilled as women. But "Babygirl" is different. It feels like a relic from a more hopeful time, when equality seemed within reach. The movie tackles the orgasm gap between men and women, a topic Reijn often discusses in interviews. Despite its darkness and perversity, "Babygirl" shows a more optimistic side. It's a unique take on feminism, blending the old with the new.

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