Happy Birthday Greta Gerwig: Exploring Her 8 Best Works Beyond Barbie

Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007)

Prior to establishing her competence as a director, Greta Gerwig was recognized for her work in mumblecore – a style that emphasizes improvisation over plot development. In collaboration with director Joe Swanberg, she co-wrote and starred in the movie “Hannah Takes the Stairs,” where she portrayed the character Hannah.

Northern Comfort (2010)

In this impromptu comedy production, Greta collaborated on the script and also starred. She shared the screen with Rob Webber in this play, where she embodied the character Cassandra. As Cassandra, she encounters Horace, played by Rob, and they quickly form a connection. However, their relationship becomes strained as they journey through the harsh landscapes of the Arctic. The production of this film was challenging due to its tight budget of $3000 and the fact that it was filmed in just three days.

Little Women (2019)

Greta Gerwig’s contemporary adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s 1868 novel Little Women was well-received. This timeless period film, released in 2019, marked her second major directorial project and starred some of Hollywood’s finest actresses such as Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Saoirse Ronan, and others. Despite being a classic from the 19th century, Gerwig infused the movie with a fresh, modern feel. Although it didn’t win any awards, it deserves recognition on this list.

Nights and Weekends (2008)

As a devoted admirer, I had the privilege of contributing to both the script and direction for a film, collaborating closely with Joe Swanberg. In this production, we took on the lead roles as well – I portrayed Mattie, while Joe brought James to life. This couple grapples with maintaining their relationship across great distances. The movie falls under the mumblecore genre, offering a somewhat unstructured narrative that beautifully captures the complex and tumultuous interactions of our characters.

Frances Ha (2013)

Initially, Greta worked alongside Noah Baumbach on the films Greenberg and Frances Ha, followed by Mistress America. In Frances Ha, Greta portrays the titular character, Frances – an unemployed dancer grappling with finding her footing while her friends achieve success. The narrative is emotionally resonant.

Mistress America (2015)

Following Frances Ha, Greta Gerwig’s second screenplay partnership with her spouse Noah Baumbach is titled Mistress America. This film is definitely worth adding to your list. In this production, Gerwig portrays Brooke, an older sister figure to Tracy (Lola Kirke). Although Gerwig’s character may appear aimless and anxious, she manages to navigate through numerous unexpected plot twists in the storyline.

Lady Bird (2017)

Lady Bird is Greta Gerwig’s debut solo directorial project, which also earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Director. Despite not winning any awards from its five nominations, the strong bond between the mother and daughter in this film has left a lasting impact, becoming iconic. In the movie, Saoirse Ronan plays the role of Christine ‘Lady Bird’, while Laurie Metcalf portrays her mother, Marion.

In the year 2023, Greta developed the concept for a movie titled Barbie, which featured Margot Robbie in the lead role. Greta both wrote and directed this production. Despite raking in significant profits at the box office, Greta was not included on the list of nominees for Best Director at the 2024 Oscars. In an interview with TIME magazine in February 2024, she expressed her feelings about the snub, saying, “A friend’s mother told me, ‘I can’t believe you weren’t nominated.’ I replied, ‘But I was! I received a nomination for an Oscar.’ She responded, ‘That’s fantastic for you!’ I responded, ‘Indeed!”

By the way, I’d love to hear your opinions on the impressive films Greta Gerwig has created thus far. Here’s to hoping she continues to produce such remarkable work. Happy Birthday, Greta!