Mimi Cave was still finalizing her debut feature, the 2022 horror film “Fresh,” starring Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones, when she was approached to direct Nicole Kidman in “Holland.” The screenplay, written by Andrew Sodorski and initially on the Black List in 2013, had gone through several changes with different actors attached before falling apart. Growing up in a Chicago suburb, Cave felt a strong connection to the setting of Holland, Michigan, and its characters based on her own experiences.
In “Holland,” Kidman plays Nancy Vandergroot, a high school home economics teacher who suspects her husband, Fred (Matthew Macfadyen), of infidelity. She enlists the help of the school’s shop teacher, Dave Delgado (Gael GarcÃa Bernal), despite lacking concrete evidence. The film leaves the audience questioning Nancy’s certainty about Fred’s unfaithfulness.
Before its premiere at the SXSW Film & Television Festival, Cave shares her insights on the project, including her personal ties to the material, the decision to set the story in 2000, the importance of keeping the audience engaged, and her collaboration with Kidman.
Cave first encountered the project while working on “Fresh” and was drawn to the story due to her own background and familiarity with the characters and setting. She decided to set the film in 2000 to capture a specific atmosphere and enhance the storytelling, adding a sense of urgency and tension through the technology limitations of the time.
By placing the narrative in 2000, Cave was able to highlight the characters’ struggles and interactions in a more relatable context, showcasing the challenges of obtaining information and navigating relationships without the conveniences of modern technology.
The experience was really interesting for me, and provided something for the actors to delve into, perhaps drawing on something from their past that they hadn’t explored in a long time. Did you try to film in Holland? We did film a few days in Holland, Michigan. Originally, we had planned to shoot the final scene, the Tulip Time parade, on the main street recreated exactly as it was, but it proved to be quite challenging. We ended up discovering this charming little town called Clarksville, Tennessee, where we essentially took over the town. In a strange way, I feel like it worked out better because the version of Holland we depicted was a more elevated, surreal interpretation of Holland, Michigan.
Without giving away too much, the film walks a fine line in keeping the audience guessing whether Nancy’s suspicions are valid or just in her head—both thoughts crossed my mind multiple times. How do you balance that kind of storytelling as a director? It’s a combination of instinctual choices and consistently considering the audience’s perspective. I constantly ask myself how I am experiencing the story and what elements would engage or frustrate me. I also focus on tracking Nancy’s character and the decisions she makes, aiming to create ambiguity around whether to believe her or dismiss her as crazy. Hopefully, there’s a moment in the movie where viewers are unsure which way things will go during the parade scene.
Nicole Kidman was also a significant producer on the film—how did that dynamic work for you, transitioning between discussing with her as a producer versus as an actor? Nicole is incredibly sharp and insightful. She has delved into more scripts than any of us. Prior to filming, she provides valuable feedback on the script in a precise, surgical manner. As an actress, she is very receptive to the director’s vision, focusing on embodying the character once shooting begins. It’s like capturing lightning in a bottle. During post-production, she shifts back into her producer role.
What were your interactions with her like on set? Nicole was absent for only three days of filming. With the entire cast, my approach is to create a set culture that is safe, comfortable, and encourages risk-taking. This environment is embraced by everyone on set, fostering a collaborative and creative space.
Your first movie, “Fresh,” premiered at Sundance. What drew you to debut this film at SXSW? Due to the writers’ strike last year, there was a lot of reshuffling. It’s hard to say if things would have been different if not for that. My hope is that this film offers a fun escape from reality, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the story without overthinking it. SXSW embodies a lively, irreverent energy that complements the film well. The festival’s audience is open to diverse experiences, devoid of pretense, and ready to embrace cinema.
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