Barbie writer thought men would put up with jokes about patriarchy

Barbie writer thought men would put up with jokes about patriarchy – It seems that the patriarchy can’t stand too many jokes about itself.

By Megan Sauer

Barbie hit theaters last summer and quickly became one of the biggest hits of the year, a milestone that even Warner didn’t see coming. The film grossed US $1.442 billion globally, leaving Greta Gerwig very well positioned among the Hollywood directors’ guild. Noah Baumbach, one of the screenwriters of Barbie, talks about the negative reviews the film received from men and says that he believed that members of the patriarchy would tolerate jokes about themselves better.

Baumbach is an American director and screenwriter known for his introspective films and their focus on the complexities of human relationships. He began his film career in the 1990s with films such as Kicking and Screaming and Mr. Jealousy, establishing his ability to explore the psychology of his characters with humor and wit. However, it was with The Squid and the Whale that Baumbach received significant attention, earning an Academy Award nomination for his original screenplay capturing the disintegration of a marriage from the perspective of the children.

Throughout his career, Noah Baumbach has continued to create acclaimed films, highlighted by titles such as Frances Ha, While We’re Young and especially Marriage Story, which earned him several Academy Award nominations. His ability to explore the complexity of human relationships, his keen observation of everyday life, and his distinctive narrative approach have established Baumbach as a respected filmmaker in the independent film industry.

Baumbach wrote Barbie along with Greta Gerwig , a film that criticizes the dynamics of patriarchy and made many members of it angry. Regarding the above, Noah says the following in an interview with Variety :

I thought men could handle it. Come on!

For her part, Greta Gerwig says that Barbie is not about hating men, but about a story that makes fun of everything:

The movie is meant to be a big-hearted thing, even though it makes fun of everyone. I planned this in my head. I’ll just say it. This is not hating men, any more than Aristophanes’ Lysistrata was. That doesn’t sound like a headache when you say it out loud like that. That will teach them! […] It sounds really silly to say it out loud, but I love Ken. We love Ken. We also take Ken’s position very seriously. He has no identity outside of her.

Greta Gerwig has left a distinctive mark on the film industry as both an actress and director, standing out for her fresh and authentic style. As an actress, she became known for her participation in mumblecore films such as Hannah Takes the Stairs and, later, starred in hits such as Frances Ha, directed by Baumbach, where her performance captured the essence of contemporary youth with humor and sincerity.

As a director, Gerwig has brought her unique style to films such as Lady Bird and Little Women. Her approach is characterized by authentic dialogue, complex characters, and a unique female perspective. Gerwig tends to explore human relationships and life transitions, using a visual and narrative style that reflects her artistic sensibility. Her ability to tell stories with empathy and humor, along with her distinctive style, has established Greta Gerwig as an influential and talented voice in contemporary cinema.