BAFTA and SAG nominations, plus an unexpected complication • Journal • A Magazine • , Life in canada

How absolutely wrong I was. Ella Kemp spoke to director Halina Reijn for a forthcoming Journal piece on Babygirl, and the Dutch director revealed that the incident was, in fact, whey too real. (Sorry.) As a former stage actor, Reijn had finished a performance and headed to a bar, where the strangely sexual moment occurred.

“It really happened to me,” she says. “He didn’t say ‘Good girl’, but I was alone at a bar. I’d just performed The Human Voice, a solo piece on stage. This young actor that I didn’t really know was on the other end of the bar and ordered me that glass of milk.” Much like Romy, Reijn was on board: “I thought it was the hottest thing that ever happened to me. Nothing happened between us, but I will never forget it.”

Like any good creative, Reijn filed the incident away for later use. To her, it perfectly encapsulated the essence of good storytelling—actions, not words; show, don’t tell. “With sexuality in film and on stage, I am not a big fan of things happening in your face,” she says. “A scene like that, where they are far apart physically, is insanely sensual to me. It’s all about suggestion: sexuality is a story. It’s not just about the physical.”

With a little creative license, Reijn elevated the scene to perfection by adding two audacious and dangerous words: “Good girl.” Reijn loves how Harris Dickinson performed the line: “There’s a danger in a line like that where it can become too cliche, but he does it in a way that’s very ironic, and yet still sexy.” And, if I may add, instantly iconic.

Carpet Check

We’re in a period of major uncertainty as the hub of the film industry deals with the ongoing situation in LA. Our West Coast Editor Mia Lee Vicino has created a list where anyone can share links to resources and fundraisers in the comments. The loss of so many homes and neighbourhoods in Los Angeles is immeasurable, and it’s always worth revisiting some of our best cinematic tributes to the city.

In terms of awards, Allie has listed the complete DGA nominees, as well as the SAG nominees. It’s also as good a time as ever to revisit the DGA’s 80 Best-Directed Films, based on a poll of its members; Seven Samurai and Sunset Boulevard are among those in prime position. Owe Ule, meanwhile, has an updated list of all films that have taken the top prizes (drama, musical/comedy and animation) at the Golden Globes—I hope this isn’t the last major ceremony to take the stunning Flow all the way to the top.