Nicole Kidman’s new film Holland premiered at SXSW last night, and it shocked the audience with its wild twists and off-kilter comedy. The film features Kidman as homemaker Nancy Vandergoot, who lives in Holland, Michigan, where her seemingly serene life is disrupted when she and one of her friends discover a secret.

In addition to Kidman, Holland features a leading cast including Gael García Bernal, Matthew Macfadyen, and Jude Hill. The film was written by Andrew Sodorski and directed by Mimi Cave. Holland played at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, March 9 to a packed house. Stars in attendance included director Cave along with actors Kidman, Bernal, Hill, and Macfadyen.

Holland’s Premiere Shocked SXSW

But Nicole Kidman’s Pᴀssion For The Film Was Evident

Holland begins as an idiosyncratic suburban comedy before spiraling into something much more sinister. The film’s major twist, which we won’t mention here, elicited a big response from the audience, and, as things escalated, you could feel the tension in the room.

Even though Holland‘s third act is a twisted thrill ride, the audience warmly received the cast and director for a post-screening Q&A. Kidman’s pᴀssion for the film was clear as she affectionately talked about her character and working with Macfadyen, Bernal, Hill, and Cave. It was clear that, for Cave, too, this was a big moment.

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After her emotional and rousing introduction of the film, she came onstage ready to talk about her love for film and what inspired Holland, which is similar to her first feature Fresh in its shifting vibes. As she left and the theater was buzzing discussing Holland, Cave shouted, “Long live independent cinema,” a sentiment that anyone attending SXSW can agree with.

Kidman Explains Her Character’s Twisty Arc In Holland

Following the screening, Kidman provided further insight into her character during the Q&A. Asked about her character’s arc, she said that she felt that “there’s a naïveté” to Nancy, which she finds “beautiful.” She sees in the character a desire for “an exciting life” while she also guesses that something may be wrong in her world.

This, Kidman said, causes Nancy to “really grow up” over the course of Holland, creating a layered character arc. Check out the full quote from Kidman below:

“I think there’s a naïveté to her which is beautiful. And a desire to have an exciting life. And also she senses that something’s up in her world, and she can’t quite put her finger on it. Little does she know. But you know, and she’s craving something more out of her life, yet she want to ask for it, and she doesn’t know how to ask for it, which is why she’s drawn to Gael’s character. And she gets caught up in this, almost like a caper. Cause she’s got a childlike quality to her. And then, you know, the curtain drops and she has to really grow up and face what life is. And that’s probably the arc I see with her.”

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This complex arc that Kidman describes is really indicative of the care the actor has put into thinking about this character. While the movie is a thriller, even the Holland trailer gives away some of the film’s themes as a homemaker struggles to get more out of her life. This dynamic female character aligns with Kidman’s own career values, as she has previously expressed how important it is to her to work with women directors to tell important female-led stories, all of which seem applicable to the plot of Holland.