As you may have seen, Barbie debut at the box office this week.
Fans and critics are praising the film directed by Greta Gerwig.
But it might have been a slightly different film if Greta had listened to studio executives, who she said asked her to cut the scene where Barbie meets an older woman.
“I really like that look,” Greta told Rolling Stone. “And the oldest woman on the bench is costume designer Ann Roth. It’s a story.”
“It’s a cul-de-sac of a moment in a way – it leads nowhere.
“And in early cuts, looking at the film, it was suggested, ‘Well, you could cut it. And of course, the story would move forward as well.'”
But Greta wasn’t having it. “I said, ‘If I cut the scene, I don’t know what this movie is about,'” she continued. “For me, this is the heart of the film. The way Margot plays at that moment is so calm and unforced.”
“There are the most amazing elements in the movie that people say, ‘Oh, my God, I can’t believe Mattel would let you do this,’ or, ‘I can’t believe Warner Bros. would let you do this.’ with you to do this.’ But for me, the part that I can’t believe is still in the movie is this little cul-de-sac that leads nowhere – except, it’s the heart of the movie.”
I like the way she explains her philosophy for introducing the scene. It makes perfect sense.
You can read her full interview with Rolling Stone here.
