Sixty-four years after the first Barbie toy was launched in the United States, a live-action movie is bringing the famous doll to life on the big screen.
Barbie, the fantasy comedy which stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, simultaneously opened across China and North America on July 21, receiving a high rating of 8.8 points out of 10 on the popular Chinese review website Douban.
A boldly imaginative story, the movie starts in Barbie Land, a vibrantly colored and female-centric realm that is home to various versions of Barbie and Ken, Barbie's longtime companion and romantic interest. Their seemingly unchanging lives, however, encounter an unprecedented crisis.
"Stereotypical" Barbie, portrayed by Robbie, is taken aback when she starts experiencing strange thoughts and physical changes that shake her to the core. As a result, she embarks on a journey into the human world to uncover the truth behind what is happening.
The movie premiered at a downtown theater in Beijing on July 18, with the entire venue adorned in Barbie's signature color — pink.
For many Chinese audience members, this movie is not simply a nostalgic reminder of a popular childhood toy, but also encourages contemplation of the status and portrayal of women in society.
