Neubauer Studios How “Babygirl” Revived The Classic Of The Legendary George Michael

A scene that goes on repeat. The Halina Reijn-directed erotic thriller Babygirl, starring Hollywood icon Nicole Kidman and newcomer Harris Dickinson, was one of the most talked about films of the past year even before it was officially released. Thanks to the provocative story of a high-powered tech executive, Romy (Kidman), who begins a kinky (and perhaps inappropriate) affair with her 20-year-old intern, Samuel (Dickinson), this film invites consideration and discussion.

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, you might have already seen this scene: About halfway through the movie, when Romy and Samuel get to the heart of their affair, they start to open up (somewhat) emotionally to each other. While ensconced in a hotel, enjoying a sensual ecstasy, Samuel begins to dance for Romy (wearing only jeans and a silver chain), and the signature opening notes of George Michael‘s “Father Figure” begin to play, subtly hinting at the developing romantic relationship between Samuel and Roma. Maybe the scene excited you, maybe it made you laugh – either way, this scene deserves attention.

“When Halina first shared the script draft, ‘Father Figure’ was already an integral part of the scene description. When we talked about the musical atmosphere during pre-production, she said that she had been listening to ‘Father Figure’ non-stop while writing, so there was no question about whether we were going to try to get it for use – we decided to do it straight away,” she said. is Meghan Currier’s film music supervisor for Harper’s Bazaar US. “Even on paper, this song was perfect for the stage – Halina’s masterful script truly celebrates the brilliant creativity of George Michael. It’s a great center in the movie.”

For the director, the deeper meaning of the lyrics of this song from 1987 served as a perfect metaphor not only for the scene, but also for Romy and Samuel’s relationship.

“I remember being a young woman and I was really in love with George Michael. I thought he was straight and the most beautiful man on the planet, especially when he sang ‘Father Figure,’” Reijn told Entertainment Weekly about her instinctive choice to make the song part of the film. “But then slowly we all learned that he was repressing a lot of his identity towards outsiders and he just wanted to fit in. He created this image of a classic, straight, confident guy. My film is kind of about that. It’s a cautionary tale about what happens when you repress parts of yourself.”

In addition to Harris Dickinson’s thirst trap, the scene also does justice to one of the most underappreciated singer-songwriters of our time, George Michael. The singer is often overlooked in conversations about ’80s musical icons, although his album Faith (featuring “Father Figure”) is considered a cultural giant of the decade – and for good reason. It was an album that talked about freedom, and like Romy, Samuel and all of us, whether we admit it or not, freedom is a height we will always strive to reach.

About The Author

Alessandra Signorelli

Signorelli is an Italian journalist writing about travel, lifestyle, wellness and beauty. She works in the Editorial Board of George V Magazine. She is based in Rome.

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