Barbinheimer Weekend broke me in a way I wasn’t expecting.

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Jewish Identity, Horses, and… Mother-Daughter Relationships

I knew at surface level I would enjoy both Barbie and Oppenheimer as my last taste of film and television amid the ongoing WGA and SAGAFTRA strikes. I was not expecting the above themes- including seeing Funny Girl on broadway all in one weekend. When Barbie’s dancing becoming more Human in her movements and she says “Do you guys every think about dying?” I knew I was in the right film. On the drive home, I shared with my friend about how often I get unsettled thoughts about weapons of mass destruction, the powers that be, and how when you remember at what chaos and ethos lies in the opinions and attitudes of world leaders, everything becomes, simple. “Yeah, that is a bit dark” she replied to me. Like “Stereotypical Barbie” (Which personally I wish Greta and Noah maybe used prototype to describe her, because I get it- western beauty has always prioritized those features but that doesn’t mean there is anything less beautiful or worthy of a woman with Blonde hair and blue eyes who may look like the original doll.) I then proceed to smile and change the topic.

My friends have asked if I have been seeing any of the discussion around Barbie, and surprisingly based on my algorithm and followings I haven’t. So for you unlucky reader, you get my interpretation and general commentary from an intersectional view and a personal perception of both films. : )

OPPENHEIMER

Stars: ★★★★

PROS

The best part of this film for me was the redemption of the ending to the screentime. I break this down further in the cons, but I enjoyed the ending greatly. Even if this film did trigger my own thoughts, I often tell myself that will hopefully not come to fruition.

The acting was stellar, casting was intentional and well played. I also enjoyed the flow of the script, something I noticed can truly make the tone of a work or break its purpose completely.

CONS

More of a critique to male directors and writers as a whole. Ironically when the complaints of Barbie came in, there was an out cry of “what ifs” that already exist.

I’d like to propose we stop dehumanizing women, but not men who stray from what the patriarchal structure demands. In the last two years I’ve observed the Madonna complex in film/television that I thought we (at least women) felt were outdated, and unfair. Especially with identifying women nude as unpure, unworthy, and othered in media. The context of the nudity in this film, makes sense- sure. But the characterization of it reminds me of other films (*cough* Blonde as just one example) for one who uses anatomy to shun womanhood and compare the “wife” to the “woman” worthy of love, time, respect, and livelihood.

The transition to the third act was also not the best. It felt sudden, abrupt, and honestly is when the film feels too long. I’d argue with the right editing, Oppenheimer was a 2hr 25m film at best.

FAVORITE SCENE

The auditorium where you see the disaster of an atomic bomb with the roaring cheers of Oppenheimer’s audience. In fact, I was hoping for a scene like this in the film, and while I loved the beautiful western desert shots with the horses, this juxtaposition of victory at what cost takes the cake.

BARBIE

Stars: ★★★★½

PROS

The main takeaways of this film are patriarchal structure, equality, the sacrifices of motherhood, purpose, and just a fun nod to barbie as a brand over the years. Let’s discuss (and will continue to do in the Cons sections)

Barbie essentially learns she and the other Barbies of Barbieland have not created women empowerment and matriarchal value in (America) in the 21st century. “Stereotypical“ Barbie learns her existence didn’t empower women to be beautiful, more than mothers, and to wear a *one piece*, a scandalous choice! On her quest to end the growing cellulite she realizes and feels what many American women emote: the psychological effects of misogynistic values and societal norms. Suddenly THE beauty standard is ogled, insecure, conscious, emotional, and feeling distraught. We learn a Mattel employee broke the bond with Barbie- not her daughter Sasha (who in addition is a nod to Bratz including her similarly looking girl group) and is now trying to help a doll who DID inspire her in such a suffocating experience for women through girlhood to adulthood. There’s just one catch. The roles are reversed in Barbieland and the Kens, unlike their friend Alan do not understand their purpose beyond loving Barbie and in Stereotypical Ken’s case- Beach. Our ken finds himself empowered, and finding purpose in the real world and he brings this ideology plus horses back to Barbieland.

Upon their return, Sasha and her mother Gloria find themselves helping the Barbies fix the real world issues plaguing their woman utopia. As a woman IN America, Barbieland sounds like my dream, but for our OG Barbie, now learning her impact for better or worse is asking herself “What is my purpose?“ Cue Ruth: the founder of Barbie, Mattel and Jewish innovator who ultimately tells Barbie, every generation of women must work to create a world we would’ve wanted for ourselves for those who come after us: Paraphrased of course. (I put the excellent and reflective quote that made me and my friend cry as my Instagram caption) Ruth tells Barbie, her purpose is now her choice just as she wanted for Barbra. I personally see it as: For as long as things are imbalanced in the real world, they will remained unbalanced in Barbieland.

Let’s discuss Barbieland- literally. Barbieland. Things are as they should be. Sarah Greenwood’s production design is everything! It reminds me so much of old hollywood in the best ways. Every intricate detail immerses the viewer into the film. The acting is well done as well. I felt the actors moved more like dolls in their world, humans in ours. The leading actors embodied the essence of Barbie and Ken, and all other supporting characters brought the energy they should to create a fun, emotional, and impactful story.

ASLO! SO MANY SOUNDBITES I WILL BE USING IN MY LIFE- Mojodojocasahouse, long-term long-distance low-commitment casual girlfriend, etc. The nods to all the disastrous Mattel ideas & even the outfit pauses were all great.

CONS

The story is one dimensional and one experience. This is more so because of who wrote it, I don’t expect Greta or Noah to understand the experiences and life my maternal and paternal matriarchal line experienced. It’s also why quotes feel “harsh“ to BIPOC viewers. As a woman I related, but as a Black Indigenous heritage woman, I did not- fully. I wouldn’t compare the take down of fictional world to the millions of death due to colonialism (in good faith and not think twice).

The Mattel scenes, I wish they had 5 minutes topped and if you saw the film you will also know which scenes felt good in pacing and which felt like a drag.

The ending. While a shock-reactiion for most.. I felt it was too abrupt. The leading up to the end is what made it feel like it was not the end.

FAVORITE SCENE

The scene where Barbie meditates, and looks tearfully at an older woman and tells her she’s beautiful- AND the woman responds that she knows. Even in this day in age, women need to know this. We are so much more than physical beauty. Our worth is not in our flesh but in our heart and the actions of our soul. Just a week before relelase I and many others withnessed hundreds of 17-30 year old women (and some, men) seeing “aged“ faces and saying how they would rather not live than to look like that. As someone who’s current life expectancy based on family statistics is 68 (Hopefully God blessed my parents, myself, my brother and our kin to pass this age in good health and spirits.) I can only pray to maybe see my older face one day.

I still need to listen to the Barbie Soundtrack and will probably do that to kick start my weekend a whole week later on a Friday night. I still WANT to be like Barbie, and well even the idea Oppenheimer presented. I want to be beautiful, and feel beautiful- but for me. I want sisterhood that ages and cares and loves. The way I am the first woman to drive, own a car, have a job- one that is higher in salary than any woman before me, a college degree, and the audacity of ambition… all before 25. I’m proof of the saying Ruth told Barbie, My maternal line stands still and I look at them in awe to create an even more beautiful world for the women within it. Barbie DID inspire me as girl. It could just be my hopeless optimism that occasionally shows up once in a while. I can do all things, and hold faith in the future to come. As for the case of relating to the end of Oppenheimer… often work we do may not ever receive recognition in our lifetime. You may even be awarded for work you do not wish to claim. I think of my favorite author, Ray Bradbury’s (fitting) short story, There Will Come Soft Rains…

“Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree, If mankind perished utterly; And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn would scarcely know that we were gone.”

The real world may not be great: re- Oppenheimer… but at least we have, Barbieland *shrug*