The milk scene in BabyGirl is one of the most talked about moments in the film, and this strange and symbolic episode has a real basis. Director Halina Raine was inspired by a personal experience that happened to her many years ago.
What happens in the film?
In a scene that became key to understanding the dynamics of the relationship between the main characters, Romy (Nicole Kidman), a successful CEO, finds herself in a bar with colleagues. There she notices her young lover Samuel. Without a word, he orders a glass of milk for her. Those around her are surprised and even express displeasure, but Romy, without hesitation, drinks it to the bottom.
This moment becomes a metaphor for her submission, her willingness to follow the rules of the dangerous game that Samuel has started. Milk, a symbol of purity and innocence, here turns into an instrument of control and manipulation.
The real story that inspired the scene
Halina Raine said that the idea for the scene came to her after a real incident. One day, after a performance in Belgium, she found herself alone in a bar — her friends refused to go with her. There, she met a local actor who was 15 years younger than her. He ordered a glass of milk for her.
Raine admitted that this gesture seemed both bold and daring to her.
“I felt nauseous, but I drank it all,” the director said in an interview.
This moment became symbolic for her: it reflected the tension, risk, and strange intimacy that she later transferred to the film.
