The Banned Karen Carpenter Biopic Was Barbie at Her Most Subversive

NOT YOUR DAUGHTER’S BARBIE

Todd Haynes’ “Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story” is a riveting, challenging portrait of the late artist. That all the characters were played by Barbies was even more harrowing.

An illustration including images of Karen Carpenter in a Recording Studio in Los Angeles and Portrait of Musician Karen Carpenter.
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway / Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Getty