The Girl is a 2012 biographical drama film that chronicles the tumultuous relationship between director Alfred Hitchcock and actress Tippi Hedren during the filming of The Birds and Marnie. The film, which is based on the book Spellbound by Beauty by Donald Spoto, stars Sienna Miller as Hedren and Toby Jones as Hitchcock.
The movie depicts Hitchcock as a controlling and manipulative director who became obsessed with Hedren, both on and off-screen. The director is shown to have a bizarre fixation with the actress, going as far as to install a secret door that would lead from his office to her dressing room.
As the filming of The Birds progresses, Hitchcock’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic and abusive. He forces Hedren to perform dangerous stunts with live birds, causing her to suffer physical injuries. He also becomes jealous of her budding romance with her co-star, Rod Taylor, and retaliates by refusing to speak to her on set.
The film also explores Hedren’s struggle to break free from Hitchcock’s grasp, as well as the toll the experience takes on her mental health. Ultimately, The Girl is a disturbing portrait of an artist who allowed his obsessive desires to consume him, and the woman who refused to be his victim.