Adult milk-drinking, a seemingly innocuous act, has taken on a more sinister role in film and popular culture. Used as a tool to evoke creepiness, filmmakers have long utilized this trope to unsettle audiences. From the iconic milk bar scene in Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" to Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," where Hans Landa unsettlingly sips milk, this motif has a longstanding cinematic history. Most recently, the film "Babygirl" reignited the debate over mature milk drinkers, particularly after Nicole Kidman chugged a glass of milk during her acceptance speech for Best Actress in the film.
"Babygirl" itself features an erotic scene centered around milk, adding fuel to the discussion about the symbolic use of milk in films. This portrayal has brought attention to how milk, strongly associated with childhood and innocence, is used to create a sense of unease when seen in adult contexts. The 2018 headlines featuring white supremacists chugging milk at gatherings further complicated the narrative. The act was perceived as a statement about their ability to digest lactose, making it an unsettling symbol of identity and ideology.
The debate over mature milk drinkers surfaces periodically in the anglophone world, with each instance sparking new conversations about cultural perceptions of milk. The East Village milkman is another memorable example of this trope, demonstrating how deeply ingrained these ideas are in popular culture. The dairy industry might even capitalize on the drama surrounding "Babygirl," possibly seeing it as an opportunity to reshape milk's image.