Black Barbie: A Documentary

2023

Documentary

1
IMDb Rating 6.0/10 10 714 714

toy merchandising

Plot summary

Discover the untold story of the first Black Barbie and the pivotal role three trailblazing women at Mattel had in creating a doll who looked like them.

Director

Lagueria Davis Photo
Lagueria Davis

Top cast

Nick Jones Jr. Photo
Nick Jones Jr. as Self
Shonda Rhimes Photo
Shonda Rhimes as Self - Television Creator, Author & Barbie
Gabourey Sidibe Photo
Gabourey Sidibe as Self
Hayley Marie Norman Photo
Hayley Marie Norman
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
876.18 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us   ar   cz   dk   de   gr   es   fi   fr   il   hr   hu   id   it   ja   kr   ms   no   nl   pl   pt   ro   ru   sv   th   tr   uk   vi   cn  
23.976 fps
1 hr 34 min
Seeds 2
1.75 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us   ar   cz   dk   de   gr   es   fi   fr   il   hr   hu   id   it   ja   kr   ms   no   nl   pl   pt   ro   ru   sv   th   tr   uk   vi   cn  
23.976 fps
1 hr 34 min
Seeds 1

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by phae_dra 6 / 10

Decent with a few irks

As a BB collector, I was eagerly looking forward to this documentary. For those of us who collect BB there is very little media attention given to the historical significance of BB. I thought the doc was well done, the narrator seemingly not liking dolls at the beginning and then saying she liked them at the end I found to be fake for the sake of the documentary and unnecessary. At least that is how it came across. The inclusion of certain commentators was also puzzling. Why was Gabourey Sidibe, who had no experience with BB or anything of value to add to the documentary included? Was she there for window dressing or did the producers want to make a point? I still don't get it. At least other contributors could relay their direct experience either owning or playing with the dolls. The social experiment with the children and the dolls was interesting but was too long and should have been edited. Although the scene of the black boy grabbing up the white barbie claiming she is the nicest, prettiest etc..is a scene that will never leave me. My goodness I hope his parents are able to help him overcome his lack of self awareness. It also would have been interesting to see actual BB collections of people, like myself who have spent decades cultivating their collection. Maybe expand the documentary outside of the scope of a few people. The discussions with Kitty Black Perkins and the Mattel employees was fascinating and I would of liked to hear more details about specific dolls, especially the vintage ones including the black males. Christie/Brad /Francie/Cara/Curtis. This documentary was a decent effort but I found it lacking in many areas.
Reviewed by mvk-37851 10 / 10

Great documentary

Don't miss out on this great documentary. It brought tears to my eyes as it highlights the significant challenges women of color face in feeling seen and appreciated. The film beautifully showcases the remarkable innovation that Black Barbie brought to the world of children's toys, breaking barriers and setting new standards. The documentary is shot in an incredibly captivating way, visually stunning, and deeply moving. It meticulously details the progressive steps in how Black Barbie got her unique look and how she has evolved over time, reflecting broader societal changes and inspiring many. This film is a must-watch for anyone interested in cultural history and the powerful impact of representation in media and toys.
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