The Cult of Greta Gerwig: Barbie, Little Women & More | Director Profile

Greta Gerwig has carved out her place as one of the most important and beloved auteurs working today. While she started out as an indie queen, with the mega success of Barbie she’s proven that there’s nothing she can’t do. Her relatable portraits of woman- and girlhood have fostered a legion of fans who connect to her characters on a deep level. Here’s our take on what makes a Greta Gerwig movie a Greta Gerwig movie and just how important those fans have been to helping skyrocket her career!
If you like this video, subscribe to our channel and support us by becoming a Taker or joining our Patreon for amazing perks like early access and custom polls!
Become a Taker: bit.ly/jointhetake
Join our Patreon: / thetake
Watch our TikTok: / thisisthetake
Bonus Content and Articles: www.the-take.com
Follow our Socials: linktr.ee/thisisthetake
CHAPTERS
00:00 You know it's a Greta Gerwig film IF...
04:04 The power of her fandom
05:38 Secret ingredients: Nostalgia & girlhood
08:53 How she built a cult following
CREDITS
Executive Producers: Debra Minoff & Susannah McCullough
Chief Creative Director: Susannah McCullough
Associate Producer: Tyler Allen
Writer: Tessa Wilkinson
Narrator: Jessica Babineaux
Video Editor: Dan Wolff

[@thetake]

WATCH MORE - Spooky season is drawing near! Recap Tim Burton's creepy filmography in this director profile: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gX66hKCff8R_b8U

[@seebothways9630]

I heard more red pill Points In Barbie. Everyone was happier under the Patriarchy but the Ken's weakness was their need impress the Barbies

[@trinaq]

I love how Greta incorporates elements of nostalgia, feminism and coming of age in her works, which make them really appealing. I can't wait to see more of her projects.

[@lightghost7524]

There is no feminism in 2023, only misandry

[@XanderShiller]

Oh, nah, she's pretty mid. Wouldn't recommend it especially to ppl who relate to her characters.

[@merieem88]

​@@XanderShillerAll the men think Greta is bad because you're just little dogs

[@that_one_reply8805]

I am here to say good job so far to gerwig, feminism has no goals I like how she makes the characters crack normal society and how the character is seen but at this point it’s always the same she should involve other things instead of always the same old female character fighting for independence, she should make something else she is mid because she writes always the same thing low creativity if you ask me, and what about discrimination of how someone looks she could try and implement that into a movie it will make her look a lil more creative.

[@yoanastoyanova]

I read a while ago that Greta Gerwig writes about that peculiar feeling that you're your most authentic self as a teenaged girl, and you feel linda lost once you grow out of those years. I felt that in Little Women certainly, when Laurie says to Meg, when she decides to get married, you'd get bored with him in three years - we will be interesting forever. It's that almost unbearable bittersweet yearning for a time of pure self-knowledge, and joy in that knowledge, that will never come back. I know that feeling so well

[@guillermoporras3754]

Greta is the real deal, audiences trust her because every project she chooses, is carefully crafted, with her excellent writing, and amazing performances that bring it to life.

[@that_one_reply8805]

She mid

[@sagara4e]

I don't know how she produced Lady Bird, but it's a masterpiece! She was able to convey emotions I didn't even know I had. Like the relationship with the mom, wow!!

[@15Candles]

Greta Gerwig is not only a talented filmmaker that's high profile now, she's also an incredible actress, underrated one if you ask me. Frances Ha, Maggie's Plan, 20th Century Women, White Noise proves how good of an actress she is. As much as i love her as a filmmaker, i'd love to see her act more. She's great! 🤗

[@65g4]

I need to rewatch Frances Ha

[@keenoled]

i'd go so far as to claim she is a better actor than film maker. She's so good at it.

[@greyLeicester]

When I saw Frances Ha back in 2013 I felt really bad for Greta cause I could see the potential and yet I was afraid her talent wouldnt be recognised. Im glad I was wrong and I was able to enjoy her craft and talent before she became 'trendy'

[@15Candles]

People mostly recognise her as a filmmaker now but as an actress, she's criminally underrated

[@andreasmeelie1889]

I remember actually feeling that exact way with Taylor Swift when she first started off and now look at her! XD EEP! :)

[@adalovelace521]

BY women FOR women, that's why we love her

[@seebothways9630]

But the Barbie movie has red pill Points it showed the Barbies happier under patriarchy.. and should how love for women is use pin men against each against the betterment of society

[@cristinaaguilarrodriguez9886]

@@seebothways9630Barbie is totally Greta, the message of the movie is pretty clear

[@Mercel29]

You don't get it, you will never get it@@seebothways9630

[@Dr.Mironova]

0:26 actually, GG directed four films so far: Barbie, Little Women, Lady Bird and Nights&Weekends.

[@marykay7878]

i feel greta gerwig is who olivia wilde pretended to be. TRULY about uplifting and empowering not only her audience, but everyone she works with and capitalizes off.

[@yoanastoyanova]

it's ok to talk about a woman without finding another women to pit her against

[@marykay7878]

its also ok to rightfully praise a woman and rightfully criticize another :) stay blessed! @@yoanastoyanova

[@ShellsGhost1]

I think Don't Worry Darling made perfect sense and flew over most people's heads or just didn't vibe with enough people. It was such an apt critique of the manosphere and I was thoroughly impressed.

[@marykay7878]

i wasnt criticizing the movie. i was talking about the fact that she told the press she had to fire shia in order to protect florence pugh, but then actually shia left on his own and she sent him videos mocking florence and begging him to come back. not very feminist@@ShellsGhost1

[@ShellsGhost1]

@@marykay7878 I was unaware. The only reference I had was the film itself. Thank you.

[@tylerwatkins2923]

The Take is finally making videos about directors again!!!😊😊❤

[@clarasundqvist6013]

Listen, this is a great video, but the upbeat music playing over Jo’s monologue absolutely killed me 💀

[@jesussalazar1901]

Bring more video essays of “You know it’s a director film if…” please 🙏🏻

[@sf6555]

One of her works thats with Noah Baumhusband is Mistress America.. its very interesting

[@swray2112]

I hope it doesn’t happen, but in the Barbie press tour she mentioned she said she’d like to direct a franchise and/or super hero movie. Chloe Zhao is a perfect example of how success takes someone away from what they do best. In both cases, making great important “small” stories.

[@tylerhackner9731]

Love her output!

[@hollygeorge4688]

BLOODY LOVE GRETA GERWIG

[@pdzombie1906]

She's done only three movies!!!

[@yuffiehighwind]

Does anyone else remember her playing Pony Merks in the animated series China Illinois? Cuz she's always gonna be Pony to me, lol

[@nidalalbur8002]

I missed this series

[@ahiruduck89]

Every time I imagined Greta Gerwig, I remember Naoko Yamada in anime

[@sinamohammadzadeh179]

I wanna know if there are the coming of age movies that are built to help young man the way Greta make movies for women and femininity. I'd love if someone suggest some of these movies

[@Mo1683]

Nah, “art” doesn’t pertain to heterosexual boys.

[@sinamohammadzadeh179]

@@Mo1683 I guess so

[@Mo1683]

@@sinamohammadzadeh179 Ya’ guessed right

[@hmm...8144]

Coming of age stories with young male characters exist. I can name a few :- Ping Pong anime and manga -- sports story with coming of age elements Re:Life -- a recently unemployed man gets to go back to high school after consuming a pill that makes him younger March Comes in Like a Lion manga and anime -- a story about a young shogi prodigy dealing with depression since the loss of his family, and the life and motivations of people around him I am sure I missed quite a few 'coming of age' manga and anime that I have watched. And I am doubly sure there are and will be still more 'coming of age' stories in anime and manga that I can find -- By a Simple Google Search. Don't know about "coming of age story especially for males" tho. Can't think of one. The ones I mentioned above deal with things that are universal, not men specific.

[@SerenaHung]

your Take on 20th century woman, Snow White?

[@Hallows4]

If she really is attached to a new Narnia adaptation, I’m curious to see what direction she takes it in. I’ve been a fan of the novels for years, and the Walden Media films definitely left an impact on me. Yet, as many fans will know, Lewis’ work has dodged accusations of sexism and racism for decades. If Gerwig brings her trademark feminist interpretation to the works, how that will be expressed?

[@Lahiwe]

I imagine that she is most interested in Susan’s character, who “stopped believing in Narnia” (aka stopped having faith in the church, going with the allegory) at 14. The books paint her as “lost” to the cynicism of the real world and stop following her character at that point. Knowing Greta Gerwig, she would probably put Susan at the center, and possibly explore how the credulity and vulnerability of her younger sister/the Chronicles’ protagonist, Lucy, makes her more susceptible to indoctrination, and how these institutions ice out women who question, and in doing so fracture bonds between women and girls on the inside (Lucy) and the outside (Susan).

[@josefk7437]

The Barbie movie didn't take itself too seriously. The characters seemed aware that they were characters in a movie. I have not seen the other Greta Gerwig movies, so I am not sure if absurdist humor, a surreal world, and not taking itself too seriously are also Greta Gerwig features. I am also guessing that Greta Gerwig hired Ben Shapiro to hate on her latest movie. I watched the Barbie movie because Ben Shapiro hates it so much.

[@aninditadas8113]

no ladybird and little women are not like that. they are very artistic and realistic and the characters feel raw. do watch them, they are literal masterpieces.

[@DDarkestKnight]

I've only seen Barbie and Lady Bird but they're amazing! I need to see Little Women

[@randywhite3947]

Little Women might be her best movie

[@milosradmilac8911]

@@randywhite3947 best adaptation of that material for sure IMO.

[@ghonnh20]

I love her ❤

[@denisefreitas6727]

I love Greta's works, Love her passion! Perfect profile! ❤

[@harelshoval5260]

1:54, bottom left corner. Should be 2017 instead of 2007.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I love that she has a verbose quality in her work because I connect to that.

[@yordalyn]

I wonder if the atmosphere she created for Little women was inspired by Portrait of a lady on fire.

[@joelanthonyalvarado6947]

Barbie was my least favorite movie from Greta but I’m still a fan boy. I was hipster before

[@madnessarcade7447]

Greta is writing the show white movie too

[@hollygeorge4688]

You know it’s going to be a GREAT film if it’s directed by THE GRETA GERWIG 🥰

[@Philthy.mcguyver310]

That’s a lie all u had to do is see the Barbie trailer and u could tell that was a piece of crap

[@15Candles]

@@Philthy.mcguyver310 Jokes on you, I loved the Barbie movie and Gerwig did a fantastic job with it 😂

[@Philthy.mcguyver310]

@@15Candles how’s the joke on me don’t your know things like judging movies are just an opinion ….. was the bus u rode to school shorter then the regular one ?

[@15Candles]

@@Philthy.mcguyver310 Because you say it's a lie and say that it was a piece of crap when I took it as a funny joke that the movie was actually great 😂🤗

[@CinemaRoles]

I always thought this was the career Lena Dunham would have post-GIRLS.

[@sammyvictors2603]

I hope that Gerwig would make Susan Pevensie more fleshed out and help re-shape the "problem" of Susan, and she can do that by making Susan's problems parallel to that of another CS Lewis female character, Orual from Till We Have Faces (Lewis's mature and complex retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche, with fleshed out and well-rounded female characters). Both Susan and Orual share several similarities (even though Susan is pretty and loved while Orual is ugly and unloved) that could parallel each other's: both were great queens of their lands, both had a divine experience that they eventually both came to doubt, and both had younger sisters who had a close relationship with the Divine (Lucy with Aslan, Psyche with Cupid). And both queens arrogantly scolded their younger sisters and mistreated them like children (Susan scolds Lucy in Prince Caspian for following Aslan's orders, Orual forces Psyche to discover the true identity of her husband or she will kill them both murder-suicide). But while Susan's fate will never be known, Orual has the happiest ending; on her way to the underworld to face judgment, Psyche appears carrying a box of beauty (her last task for Venus) and guides her older sister out of the underworld and into a bright sunlit field. Psyche tells Orual that no cloud will ever part them, then offers her a piece of beauty, and her reflection matched Psyche's reflection.

[@65g4]

Gerwig is my fav filmmaker right now and this is great video well done

[@Greenrivers14]

I'm a fan, her movies just really make me happy!

[@medardbitangimana4580]

I named my kitten Greta after Greta Gerwig of course. Then later i discovered that the kitten was actually male

[@witchplease9695]

I enjoy most of Greta Gerwig’s films for what they are but I don’t see her as representative of women…she’s representative of white women. And that’s fine since she is one, but white women are not the default of womanhood.

[@milosradmilac8911]

Came here to drop a like for Greta. Not all of her stuff is for me per se, but she's very talented, seems like a solid person and tries to be respectful towards the characters in her films.

[@GATeacherfriend]

Love Gerwig's vibe. The YA book I'd ike to see her take on is The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I'd live to see the 1700s fish-out-of-water clash of cultures come to life in her hands. Wish I could pitch it to her.

[@sagara4e]

Am I the only one who didn't like Little Women? I feel like she focused too much on the protagonist, it would have been great to see more intimate domestic sisterhood in place. P.s. I love her other movies, wow!!

[@rachelgerlach5101]

I can't wait to see Barbie with my friends! I've heard really good things. I hope Greta does Narnia justice. It was a big part of my childhood and I always felt a connection to Lucy because I looked like her when I was little, and I related to her gentle love of the magical creatures she met. From what I saw in Little Women, I'm hopeful that she will be the right fit for the franchise! I totally agree with the statements in this video about Greta's truthful insights into the reality of girlhood and womanhood. I hope she can take that and use it to show the best parts of Lucy from the book. Greta, I'm counting on you!

[@amyadams9970]

The cult of Greta sounds amazing for a title video

[@K1ng1995]

I kinda want her to direct a Marvel movie specifically White Tiger

[@PassiveAgressive319]

Thankyou for this GG IS more than just a female feminist filmmaker. She digs deep into her character that make them super relatable

[@itsmeharperjacksons6633]

You know its a Greta Gerwig film if: Women.

[@rebeccapatterson649]

I wish girls like Greta Gerwig and Penelope Skinner would use their own names, in plays about themselves - like “The Village Bike”, a play Penelope Skinner wrote and Greta Gerwig acted in. Why use a Jewish girl’s nickname when their names are better suited for the character.

[@Transrightshumanrights]

The fact that the Kens want share is why the. Ken's should be in charged

[@seebothways9630]

So much projection the Barbie move should how are pined against each other against the better outcomes for everyone

[@cravidana1182]

I didn't love barbie. It was a movie. Not good, not bad. It was meh. Definitely not worth the hype. Maybe I'm too "radical", so whatever message it was trying to convey felt empty, diluted, null. The plot wasn't great, I was apathetic during the whole movie. I wonder if the movie didn't resonate with me because I'm black. I don't know. But there are movies (and books) like Gone Girl whose main character is and could only be a white woman and it still delivered amazingly, it touched social issues in a way the was obvious and made sense. So I don't think it's because I'm black. Anyway I still paid to see Barbie twice. Why? Because it matters. Stories about women matter. We need to show up, even if we don't like it. We need to show interest in stories of and by women to change the whole system and one day, I won't need to watch a movie I don't like because women won't need support.

[@Anthonycheesman33]

Barbie felt like two different movies fighting with each other it’s kind of a mess . One part felt like a fun dumb movie the other was preachy as hell .

[@trinaq]

I liked it overall, and would give it a solid 8 out of 10. However, it DID get rather preachy on occasion, which is why I deduced some points.

[@Anthonycheesman33]

@@trinaq I gave it a 7 it felt way too preachy at the end lol.

[@Anthonycheesman33]

@@t.r.e.v.o.r_s.m.i.t.h cuz was would make it a fact and it’s my opinion Einstein lol.

[@Posturtle]

Greta is my favorite contemporary director. Her "Little Women" is my comfort movie these days.

[@seebothways9630]

That speech seems more like human experience

[@Transrightshumanrights]

Being a man under progressive empire means not being loser but accustomed to power or prioritize protecting your power. It means sharing emotions but maje women abd girls feel bad being causes of negative out comes. . Or your misogynist it mean holding in line but hold women accountable or sane standards or its mysongyny . It means having responsibility and accountability but not being yo controlling nevey blame the women your not control.ig thry kick you out its because you you were horrible if you leave your horrible abandoning your responsibilities

[@DanaJaneWriter]

It's tragic for me how I've loved her for YEARS AND YEARS and than she made Barbie and that's how I've fallen out of love with her 💔

[@williamcondon7729]

I love Greta Gerwig films but I really found it frustrating how awful the mother was in Lady Bird and Greta just acted like it was open to interpretation. I really would have appreciated her setting some of these women straight who kept trying to sympathize with the mother who told her daughter they couldn’t afford parking instead of saying goodbye to her when she left for college and didn’t have enough of a spine to give her an apology note.

[@Philthy.mcguyver310]

U could tell she used her real life experiences as a Barbie toy to make that movie 😂

[@ninreck5121]

can you please not use "females" as a noun like that, it gives a strong transphobic vibe, the word "women" is just fine, "female" is an adjective and should be used as such feel free to ask me to elaborate

[@69gabygirl]

which part of saying the word female to describe females is ‘transphobic’ ?

[@ninreck5121]

@@69gabygirl female in and of itself is an adjective. Within the trans community, many place value on differentiating between "woman" "female" and "feminine" because they can have very different meanings for people. One might identify as a woman but as non-binary and not female, for example. I understand that the concept can be hard to grasp for people outside of trans identity and discourse so it is important to listen to those who are part of it saying specifically "females" in meaning "women" now places am emphasis on the biology. You know how in a nature documentary, the narrator might describe the female members of a species as "females"? Now, while humans are of course animals, too, biologically, our concept of gender is much more complicated and tied to societal values and standards than "gender = sex". The lionesses in the nature documentary do not have a concept of gender identity but humans do. Refering to all human women as "females" therefore by linguistic connotation places us in this "gender = sex" and "gender identity doesn't exist" narrative that is inherently transphobic I hope that explains it

[@traydevon]

So it’s society that “pins women against each other,” not their own personalities or nature? Ok, sure. 🤦‍♂️

[@seebothways9630]

It's called projection m just look at the Barbie movie

[@XanderShiller]

Oh, nah, she's pretty mid. Wouldn't recommend it especially to ppl who relate to her characters.

[@watamatafoyu]

Gerwig takes stereotypes and blows them up into fodder for heavy-handed histrionic diatribes. It's a form of shock directing that's cringe-inducing for it's lack of realistic foundation and really just makes the female characters performing look weak and preachy and like they need special handling.

[@nugrahadwianggoro]

She's a great filmmaker because her weakest movie is the Little Women remake and it's underwhelming only because Emma Watson's wooden performance, in my opinion.

[@lightghost7524]

Movies that cater to fem cels

[@MarkLaw13]

Barbie is generic and will be one of the most hated films in due time

[@tombombadilofficial]

Wait, its not made by that angry kid ranting about climate change?

[@trinaq]

No, that would be Greta Thunberg. Maybe we'll get a documentary or biopic about her one day.

[@alirehman4858]

Teenage girls having too much time to waste bcuz daddy pay for the iPhones they make the sus TikTok edits and get real education or a job.

[@seebothways9630]

Seems the Ken's ran better society then the Barbies

[@sammyvictors2603]

Um, the Kens all turned the Barbies into submissive maids and ditzes. How is that better?

[@MarkLaw13]

Marry the brilliant writer, director Noah Baumbach. Sleep with the brains. Get what you can. Make sure he finds you a role in the industry Greta is okay. Kathryn Bigelow is way better and legendary. Ladybird I actually liked. Little women sucks compared to the Bale Ryder version Also, Greta is allergic shining the light on other women who arent white but instead make them background characters with no impact on the story. Kathryn Bigelow has been able to do everything. Strange Days was absolutely brilliant. Hurt locker masterpiece. Zero Dark 30 was amazing. Near Dark was a good take on vamps. Detriot was a very solid riot film. Lest we forget the iconic Prison Break Greta isnt even truly directing she always has Noah to superviser her work cos hes on set giving her points, she said she loves it