Nicole Kidman won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival this fall for her performance in Good Girl. In the erotic thriller, set to hit Hungarian cinemas on January 30, the actress plays a powerful corporate executive who, despite being married, embarks on a passionate affair with an intern. This character is played by Harris Dickinson, who is nearly 30 years younger than Kidman, and the age difference is not glossed over in the story—something some viewers have found controversial.
The writer-director of Good Girl, Halina Reijn, whose previous credits include Instinct and Bodies Bodies Bodies, addressed this topic in an interview with W Magazine. A former actress herself, Reijn emphasized the importance of having an intimacy coordinator on set for the film’s depiction of sexuality. She also commented on the characters’ age gap, which she does not view as problematic.
Reijn pointed out that the reverse dynamic—an older man with a younger woman—is far more common in films and rarely causes a stir. The relationship depicted in Good Girl, she argued, stands out only because it is being viewed through a male-centric lens.
“When we see a movie where the male actor is the same age as the female actor, we think it’s strange. That’s crazy. We should completely normalize age differences and the fact that women engage in all kinds of relationships. We’re no longer confined to a box. We internalize men’s perspectives; we internalize the patriarchy, and we need to free ourselves from that. But it’s difficult to do,” Reijn explained.
The Dutch filmmaker also noted an interesting cultural shift: younger generations, particularly Gen Z, approach sex in a more prudish way, a trend supported by studies. As a member of Generation X, Reijn finds this intriguing and seeks to understand young people while also learning from them. However, she stressed the importance of ensuring that the rising generation does not completely disconnect from sexuality.
“It’s crucial to shed light on sexuality and basic primal instincts for young people. It’s dangerous to say, ‘This is disgusting. I don’t want to feel these smells, I don’t want to see bodily fluids.’ Human connection is the key to survival. The more we sit with gadgets in our hands, the more depression and suicide we’ll see. It’s our duty in society to connect with each other, both physically and mentally,” the director emphasized.
