Unveiling the Untold: Barbie Director's Intense Battle to Preserve the Essence of the Movie

Summary

The inclusion of costume designer Ann Roth as the older woman adds depth and symbolizes the film's celebration of women and their contributions.

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS from Barbie. Director Greta Gerwig fought to keep a key scene in the movie. The new film showcases Barbie Land as a utopian world that is forever changed when Margot Robbie's Barbie faces newfound struggles and difficult questions, embarking on a journey to the real world. Alongside Ryan Gosling's portrayal of Ken, both Barbie and Ken encounter amusing moments, but Barbie also experiences genuinely profound moments.

According to Gerwig in a Rolling Stone interview, she revealed that one of the impactful scenes in the real world almost didn't make the final cut. The scene occurs at a bus stop where Barbie shares a brief conversation with an older woman while sitting on the same bench. Despite its emotional significance and inclusion of some of the best quotes from the Barbie movie, Gerwig had to fight to preserve this scene. Find her comments below:

"I have a deep affection for that scene. The older woman sitting on the bench is the renowned costume designer, Ann Roth. It's a quiet moment that doesn't necessarily advance the plot. During the initial edits, it was suggested, 'Maybe you could remove it, and the story would still progress in the same way.' To me, if I were to eliminate that scene, I wouldn't understand the essence of this movie. That's how I perceive it. For me, it holds the emotional core of the film. Margot's performance in that moment is delicate and authentic. While the movie features more daring elements that astonish people, like, 'Wow, I can't believe Mattel and Warner Bros. allowed you to do this,' what truly surprises me is the retention of this small, aimless moment — it's the heart of the movie."

Why This Scene Is The Heart Of The Movie

This scene beautifully portrays the core themes of Barbie. Its quietness captures attention immediately. Barbie and the other woman on the bench exchange glances before engaging in dialogue. This brief pause in conversation and action intensifies the impact when Barbie, with a smile, compliments Roth's character as beautiful, which is reciprocated with a smile and a recognition of her own beauty. Although Barbie often feels out of place in the real world, this moment genuinely connects her with others.

At the heart of the movie, this scene highlights Barbie's authenticity and serves as a reminder of her purpose. It proves that her advocacy for empowering women is not just empty talk. Beauty extends beyond appearances, encompassing a woman's confidence and effortless self-love. These qualities are what Barbie strives to regain personally in the real world and what she must help the brainwashed Barbies rediscover upon her return to Barbie Land, where the Kens and an unexpected villain twist have cast a shadow.

With minimal dialogue or action, the scene successfully honors women, showcases Robbie's Barbie, and serves as a poignant reminder of the film's importance. The inclusion of Roth as the older woman adds depth to both the scene and the character, as she is a renowned legend and an Academy Award-winning costume designer. Roth's invaluable expertise and her impeccable style, which she has beautifully crafted for numerous artistic endeavors, flawlessly complement the scene and encapsulate its significance as the soul of the Barbie movie.