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One of the most anticipated movies of 2024 is Nicole Kidman’s erotic mystery Bathroughgirl. The film, which revolves around a powerful CEO who puts her career and family circle in jeopardy when she embarks on a passionate affair with a much younger intern, is directed and written by Halina Reijn, the mastermind of Bodies, Bodies, Bodies (2022) and Instinct (2019). Bathroughgirl features Nicole Kidman as CEO Romy and Harris Dickinson as intern Samuel along with Antonio Banderas as Romy’s husband, Jacob, and Sophie Wilde as Romy’s assistant, Esme. Although the stellar cast has attracted attention, it’s the film’s intimate scenes that have everyone on the edge of their proverbial seats.
In an interview with IndieWire, Halina elaborates on the appeal of the erotic scenes, stating that they were not just a personal vision, and were only made possible through collaboration with Lizzy Talbot, a seasoned intimacy coordinator who also worked on productions like It Ends with Us and Bridgerton. Halina also credits Lizzy with facilitating the ‘fetishistic yet tasteful love scenes’ between the two leads.
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“I’ve been an actress, so I’ve experienced a lot of men sitting in high chairs with North Face jackets, eating pizzas while I was crawling around like a turtle on my back. And I hated that feeling,” shared Halina. “I thought, ‘What the fuck are you doing in that chair?’ I would feel, sometimes, the enjoyment of that power, and them saying — this is all before #MeToo — ‘just try something,’ where there wasn’t [anything] even on paper or in the choreography, nothing. What’s so scary about that is you don’t know what the boundaries of your scene partner are… it’s incredibly traumatising. I’m obsessed with intimacy coordinators. I’m in love with them, not only on set but what they can do with your writing. If you use them in the right way, they are just as useful as a stunt coordinator and just as important. I wish I had one as an actress, but unfortunately, they were nowhere to be seen.”
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Halina further explained how intimacy coordinators helped facilitate bolder and more complex scenes than we usually see. “You can see more excessive sex scenes that seem much riskier than when you think ‘no, let the actresses figure it out for themselves. ‘It is a very outdated concept of what sexuality is and how to approach it. I am opposed to that. I’m also opposed to other people who say, “No, my actors didn’t want an intimacy coordinator. “This makes no sense. It is also about your protection as a director and that of everyone. What if there is a misunderstanding? It’s just amazing to have a user like that on set. And if you’re artistic and talented enough as a director, you can pull it off. Trust me. You just want to overcome your own discomfort a little and you will notice a whole new world of creativity and possibilities.
The role of intimacy coordinators in the industry has been the subject of debate, with some directors and actors questioning their necessity — a conversation helmed by Anora’s Sean Baker However, many netizens have rallied in support of the practice. One user commented on Reddit, “Exactly. This is one occasion where you should not be taking cues from the actors. If there is a stunt, there is a stunt coordinator. If there is an intimacy scene, there should be an intimacy coordinator.”
Another commenter shared her thoughts, referencing an interview with Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan: “I don’t forget to read an interview with someone from Bridgerton (maybe Nicola?), who expanded on precisely this set. She said that the intimacy coordinator She taught them some interesting tricks, like we just looked like we were crashing into each other using inflatable balloons; there was no need to directly squish, but it was all visual. She seemed satisfied and fascinated, and why not? They’re no different. It’s great to be informed about how things are done (safely and efficiently). Others echoed the sentiment that intimacy coordinators deserve to be mandatory on set. the defense and coverage of a professional without the discomfort and potential alienation of having to request it,” one Internet user stressed.
With the growing awareness of the importance of protection and the professionalism of actors in intimate scenes, it is clear that intimacy coordinators are becoming a component of modern cinema. What do you think?