Tiny Shoulders, Rethinking Barbie

Since her debut nearly 60 years ago, Barbie has been, at turns, a fashion idol and a cultural lightning rod, in constant conversation and conflict with the ideals and aspirations of women and girls in every era. Tiny Shoulders explores the untold history of the Barbie figure to explore beauty, stereotypes, and women’s progress, all reflected back by an 11.5-inch doll. At the same time, the film goes behind the scenes at Mattel, where Barbie undergoes a new transformation in order to better reflect today’s more diverse perspectives on body image and beauty ideals. Featuring interviews with Gloria Steinem, Roxane Gay, Peggy Orenstein, Mattel insiders, and cultural historians, Tribeca alum Andrea Nevins’s engaging and enlightening documentary brings the iconic doll into new focus, positioning her as the ever-evolving mirror of feminism in America. (Tribeca Film Festival)