‘Barbenheimer’: Why the ‘Barbie’ vs ‘Oppenhemier’ phenomenon is a movie event for the ages

‘Barbenheimer’, the Internet phenomenon surrounding the release of Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer,’ has surged interest; the release is now a cultural event of epic proportions with many opting to make it a double-feature Friday

The Queen of Dreams meets the Lord of Death this Friday. Visit a theatre this weekend and if you manage to get tickets, then chances are you would find moviegoers dolled up in pink and black and celebrating cinema. For, Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan are bringing to cinema halls Barbie and Oppenheimer, two films with polar sensibilities. There’s frenzy, thanks to an Internet meme-generated phenomenon: ‘Barbenheimer’

But first, what’s the big deal with Barbie and Oppenheimer?

Gerwig’s Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling among others, is based on one of the most influential cultural icons, the Barbie fashion doll, that shaped the dreams of millions of children. Chennai-based content marketer Anandhi Moorthy has picked her favourite pink outfit to catch the premiere. The release is a celebration of what Barbie meant to her as a child, she says. “I come from a conservative family where you are told what to do and what not to. In the Barbie animation movies, she can do anything she puts her heart into. She’s also independent, something most girls aspire to be. And her story wasn’t always about finding love; sometimes it was about defeating evil or solving problems.”

Barbie will catch eyeballs for another major reason; she has always been the unparalleled queen of fashion and the release has brought back nostalgia-fuelled fashion trends. Film stylist Amritha Ram can’t wait to see the splurge on Barbie accessories in the market. “Barbie’s impact on fashion is monumental. The use of pink is simply a sub-culture that Barbie created and if you see pink on red carpets, that is just that influence.” And coincidentally, pink has been reigning the red carpets globally for the last two years, she adds. “Barbie’s aesthetics have gone into the construction of garments, and I believe that when it comes to influence, even the skater skirt can be traced back to Barbie.”

Meanwhile, fashion designer Archana Rao says her journey started with styling Barbie dolls. “Girls from all ethnicities, body types and aesthetics could relate to a Barbie. This happened in the 1990s, way before the discussion on diversity began. It was a game-changer for fashion at the time.”

Vintage fashion statements are returning, and designers are particularly excited for the Barbie-core trend. “A lot of these accessories, like the Barbie glasses and visors, became a part of the play craft,” believes Amritha. “For me, fashion designing is all about embracing the bold and playful side of fashion; Barbie brings out that side,” she adds.

For theatre artist Narendhar Venkatesan, a Christopher Nolan film gives an experience like no other. “I can’t describe that haunting feeling I got after watching Interstellar. When I see his films, I feel I am a part of it,” he says. Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy alongside an ensemble star cast, tells the story of J Robert Oppenheimer, the man who is credited for the invention of the atomic bomb as a part of the Manhattan Project.