I have so far watched the Barbie film twice. Not because I was blown away by it; but because I think there is such a lot in it to digest. Plus second time was very spontaneous as just happened to by the cinema with unexpected time on my hands.
I had not seen trailer before watching. I obviously knew it was a phenomena, so wanted to see what it was about. I had heard not a kids film so knew it was not going to be too infantile. I enjoyed it more the second time, because I could relax knowing where the plot was going. Still this is tough trying to get thoughts in order as so many elements of the film. There are SPOILERS Ahead!!!!
I guess when not knowing where to start … start at the beginning! So the film starts by a narrator saying how girls have always played with dolls. It shows girls playing with baby dolls. A narrator explains how the dolls were always babies and could get boring just playing at being Mother’s. …but then Barbie came!!! It was a striking introduction. Albeit when I was watching first time I was assessing whether film suitable for my 8year old niece, therefore the sight of the girls smashing their baby dolls up at the end of the introduction was a bit sad; like when can you not play with baby dolls and Barbies?
Credits run during the introduction and it is clever that the narrators name not revealed until towards end of introduction. The narrator is Helen Mirrum after not recognising her voice it was reassuring that she had endorsed the film.
Next the film changes tone again. Showing different Barbies. And talking about how Barbie started in a swimming costume but then showed how Barbie and therefore girls could be anything they wanted to be. I had thought the film may end with this kind of message and although I agree with the principle, I’m not sure I would have been satisfied by that simplistic ending.
In third change of tone; we enter Barbie land! Lots of pink! Margot Roberts shown looking perfect waking up and greeting Barbies in other Barbie houses. Then getting up and putting heeled slippers on, that foot scene getting into shower (had heard about that before seeing the film!), getting dressed then leaving the house; all of course accompanied by a song! Barbies are shown doing all types of jobs then Margot Barbie arrives at the beach where Ken’s are introduced. Ken’s are shown as comedy characters with limited intelligence. Barbie moves through the day in the same cute way to a glamorous dance party. But then she blurts out about thinking about DEATH!
The film continues the next day with Barbie’s morning routine but this time she has not slept well as had more death thoughts! Her shower is cold, she burns her waffle and then at the beach her feet go flat! Barbie’s flat feet lead to her seeking our weird Barbie for advice. I hear that a weird version of Barbie replicating one that had been played with too hard is now been released – clever product launch! Anyway meeting weird Barbie leads to Margot Barbie and Ken going on a mission into the real world!
In the real world Barbie finds that it is very different to Barbie land. A building site at lunch time is not full of feminism energy! She is leered at. Ken on the other hand feels more valued in the real world. Although he does find that just because he is a man he can not walk in and do any job without qualifications! A female dr will not let him walk in and perform an appendectomy! When a man at a company will not give Ken a job off the street, Ken asks if the patriarchy is not working well the company. The man confides it exists but they have to keep it quiet! This section of the film has laughs about the role of men and women! Ken decides to return to Barbie land.
The film’s action then notches up! Including fast car scene! Then real characters enter Barbie land. But Ken has started a patriarchy initiative. The Mother from real world, weird Barbie and Margot Barbie have to hatch a plan to restore order in Barbieland. They succeed partly by turning Ken’s against each other so that they start a war amongst selves!
Barbie then decides to be a real person rather than a Barbie. Weirdly the climax of the film is Barbie going to a gynaecologist in the real world. I guess it is making the point that she is now a real woman with genitals, but still a bit baffling ending.
I often find films tell a very simplistic story without tangents and are predictable. I definitely did not predict this one! If I had predicted before the film; I would have thought the message would be about empowering women. I like how the real world Mother gives speeches about how it is hard to be everything; Mother have high powered job, earn money but not talk about it etc… As although I like girls being encouraged to follow their own unique dreams and not be limited; realistic life is not always easy – it takes more than dreams!
The film packs a lot of different ideas in and changes of pace and tone; saccharine of Barbieland, comedy, action, history of Barbie etc. Plus trying to show wide representation with Barbies and Ken’s of different ethnicities, wheelchair Barbie, plump Barbie and pregnant Barbie. But male figures are put down and shown as stupid. The film nearly addresses this by saying how Barbieland will gradually give men more opportunities so that they become equal to Barbie. But then it swerves away from this message of equality by adding the equality that women have in real world! I like it acknowledges that although we try for an equal world we are not there. The film does not leave with overall message and that is potentially an asset to leave the audience to think for self Cavour issues. Although ability to think is impinged because have been exposed to so much in during the film! Hence I have seen it twice and had to try and recall it like this! I think there are valuable discussion points but think they are not being discussed much as people are coming out of the film rather dazed!
I do not real agree that either men or women should dominate the world. I believe in opportunities for all. But I’m not sure men and women will ever truly be completely equal because men and women are different. As things stand (keeping with Barbie simplistic and not thinking about gender too deeply) it is only females who give birth but that presents dilemmas of whether to have children and if so whether to pursue a career etc and it is hard to do it all! I do feel men are put down in the film and that is not a good message. To be strong women; you do not have to put people down even men and not sure everyone will get that subtly especially young girls. Also film only talks / shows girls playing with dolls. Perhapas boys playing with dolls help promote equality by showing from young age they women do not have to do all the caring!
I do wonder how much young girls take from this film because language is sophisticated and adult concepts complex. And it does seem to mainly girls going! Out of two shows not seen male kids! There are interesting things to discuss for all!
What do you think?
Wonderwall 