In case anyone is still in doubt about the Barbie frenzy, first looks and screenings have revealed its ingenuity. Thus, decoding Greta Gerwig’s characters would be a fun trip down memory lane, exploring how her treatment of the female experience makes every film something stunning to look at. In this piece, her characters from Little Women and Lady Bird will serve as the foundation of the conversation around building complex and layered female characters.
She has always been a talented actor and has worked with people who honour the kind of expertise she brings. With Noah Baumbach, it seems that the artist has found her safe spot creatively. They have collaborated on multiple projects together, including Barbie. His work on Frances Ha, White Noise and others with Gerwig has confirmed that they both work their best with each other. It explains why many of his films also explore female characters in a way that makes them seem more real instead of a monolith.
Decoding Greta Gerwig’s Characters
Little Women
When there are four sisters, it is important that each one has a distinct personality, and Gerwig managed to convey that in the finest way possible. While she was handed tropes in terms of the characters, she had managed to make them layered in a way a viewer couldn’t pick until they had indulged themselves into the character enough that they could understand the intricacies of its construction. It was fascinating to see how these four different women in the same household were given such diverse treatments.
Jo is an incredibly complicated character with such a strong sense of self met with so much isolation that she thinks it won’t be accepted. It is what causes her relationship with Laurie to break down, and her writing to flourish. Her incredibly popular speech about women has become a staple in understanding the complexities of the gender, and it speaks to the insights of Gerwig both as a director and a writer. Moreover, showing Amy grow through the duration of the film is the reason why the character development is so stark.
Florence Pugh shared that how the scripts were written showed that Gerwig had made every decision with precision and specificity. Every word was intentional and needed to be delivered at that time. The rehearsals were intense because the conversation was crafted like a dance. It spoke to Gerwig’s ability to recreate the magic on screen but also create an atmosphere that would be conducive to taking her actors to that space in their craft.
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson and Eliza Scanlen, Little Women is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.
Lady Bird
Imagine a teenager who is going through an identity overhaul and not being able to express that clearly with anyone. In this movie, Gerwig manages to encompass a mother-daughter relationship in the best way she can. We see conversations that arise out of pure love but also deep misunderstanding. People with mother issues will definitely relate to this kind of exploration because it showcases the push and pull and the rigorous dichotomy that comes with being a daughter.
It also shares some incredibly bleak truths about love and sharing how our relationship with our parents borders on being liked because love is a given. Gerwig gives this character self-assurance as well, but there is definitely this aspect of not being enough for our mothers who work so hard to give us the life we have. While Lady Bird seeks comfort from her mother, expecting that since they’re both women, it would be easier. Instead, she is stuck looking up to someone who does not feel the same way about her.
The element of escape here is crucial because it gives the main character the opportunity to explore life outside of her small circle. It does seem like if her current setting doesn’t give her enough love, then maybe she can find a bigger place where the sample size is larger, and it is certain that there would be someone who would like her. The single scene in the dressing room becomes the crux of the film because it is the emotional peak that renders all of Lady Bird’s insecurities and fears bared open. The film is a brilliant exploration of teenage angst and drama while also being a comforting hug by the end.
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Starring Saoirse Ronan, Beanie Feldstein, Laurie Metcalf and more, Lady Bird is currently available to stream on JioCinema and Amazon Prime Video.
For Barbie, she has already given the main character an existential crisis. For now, womanhood to the female protagonist is limited to a very narrowed take that manages to expand as she comes to the real world and sees people like Lady Bird who want to make something of themselves or see women like Jo March who are aware the kinds of things women go through and why they need to be seen outside of this monolith. For Margot Robbie’s character, it means she has to break out of the mould to understand her space in the real world and Barbieland.
There are only so many ways, Robbie can be the titular character. However, the idea of womanhood can be explored in a myriad of ways. The templates of whom we see in the films explored above. Bringing the same level of complexity and detail to this project is what makes viewers so excited to see this film. It is a mix of all the nostalgia and fun that would hit us in the feels at exactly the right moment, moving everyone to tears.
Barbie will be releasing in theatres on July 21, 2023.
What do you think of these female characters that Greta Gerwig has breathed life to? How do you think she will bring the same level of intricacy to Barbie? Let us know in the comments below.
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