Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is a poignant tale of womanhood – one which explores the complexities of human emotion. Although the movie begins in the utopia of Barbie Land, irrepressible thoughts of death and the fear of cellulite forces Barbie (Margot Robbie) to venture into the Real World. Although the movie is crammed with comic moments, it certainly doesn’t shy away from being an emotional rollercoaster, which is why Barbie is going to be a topic of conversation for a long time coming. Barbie’s celebrated reception has proved that, once again, Gerwig has created a hugely significant piece of cinema - something which is encapsulated within the movie’s emotional montage scene.
After bidding a fond farewell to Barbie Land, Barbie feels uncertain about beginning her new life in the Real World. However, she is offered comfort by Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman), Barbie’s original creator. After asking permission to become human, Ruth confirms that she has no power over Barbie’s decision and encourages the doll to embrace her new life in the Real World, regardless of the uncertainty. In a poignant portrayal of motherhood, Ruth reveals to Barbie that she named the doll after her own daughter, Barbara, before telling her that “We mothers stand still, so our daughters can look back to see how far they’ve come”. Ruth then delivers the movie’s iconic lines: “Take my hand, close your eyes, and now, feel". With Billie Eilish’s ‘What was I made for?’ Playing, the movie then reveals its memorable montage - but who is featured in the montage, and why was it included in the movie?
Who is in the montage scene?
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gerwig revealed that the montage consists of real home videos donated by the movie’s cast and crew. Because of this personal detail, the montage has been widely dubbed as the ‘Real Women Montage’. The montage features footage of the movie's cast and crew, surrounded by their family and friends.
In an interview with Andrew Freund, Gerwig becomes emotional after discovering that the montage unexpectedly included footage of one of Freund’s close friends. She went on to state that: "We got the most beautiful moments from people's lives. And it was people's friends, aunts, mothers, daughters, sisters, it was just extraordinary”.
The sequence relays a series of emotional and heartwarming moments, ranging from a wedding day to a bowling celebration. These personal moments are intended to reflect upon the lives of women; however, they don’t feel mundane, they feel incredibly special – dwelling on the movie’s wider themes. This beautiful collection of home videos is what makes Barbie so significant – but why did Gerwig choose to include the montage in the movie?
Why was the montage included in the movie?
Contextually, the montage fits perfectly within the movie’s narrative. After witnessing this emotional collection of home videos, Barbie is sure of her decision to become human. Although she is well-aware of humanity’s low points, Barbie is convinced that she simply wants to feel everything – both the good and the bad. She even finds comfort in crying, saying “That felt achy, but good” after shedding her first few tears in the Real World. Yet, Barbie’s montage scene also blends in with the movie’s wider themes, as revealed by Greta Gerwig herself.
In the same interview with Entertainment Weekly, Gerwig relays that the montage scene is about humanity, and was intended to feel ‘human’. She stated that: "Movies, dolls: Human beings make them. There was something about Ruth Handler, inventor of Barbie, this idea that she made the doll Barbie for her daughter Barbara, and just that human connection”.
The montage focuses on the beauty of human connection, or more specifically, the concept of human connection in relation to womanhood. For a film about a plastic doll, it could’ve been very easy for Barbie to be completely disconnected from humanity, however, Gerwig places human relationships at the forefront of her movie – something which is reflected within the Real Women Montage.
Yet, Gerwig doesn’t shy away from portraying the challenges of womanhood, particularly in the monologue made by America Ferrera’s character, Gloria. In the memorable speech, Gloria relays the complexities of being a woman whilst living under society’s contrasting expectations: "You’re supposed to love being a mother but don’t talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman, but also always be looking out for other people”. The message of Gloria’s speech is self-explanatory: “It is literally impossible to be a woman”. Obviously, this isn’t the only scene in the movie which encapsulates how difficult it is to be a woman, but Barbie’s montage scene functions to show the positives of womanhood, insisting that there is still beauty in being a woman, despite its many hardships.
Barbie’s montage scene also dwells on the movie’s creative process. Gerwig told Entertainment Weekly that her adoration for movies stems from their position as a “collective art form”. By piecing together home videos from Barbie’s cast and crew, Gerwig focuses on the theme of collaboration, another essential part of humanity. When speaking to Andrew Freund, Gerwig stated that she wanted that moment to be “truly made by the people who made the movie”.
Ultimately, Barbie is not simply a story about a doll – it’s a narrative of womanhood, and the spectrum of emotions associated with it. The movie’s montage scene finalizes this concept. By including moments of girlhood, womanhood, motherhood, and female friendship, Barbie’s montage strives to celebrate women.