Tatiana Tuzova, a Russian collector who owns an astounding collection of 12,000 Barbie dolls, was eagerly anticipating the Hollywood movie based on her beloved idol. Her enthusiasm was not misplaced as she found the film, in which Margot Robbie portrays the iconic character, to be a delightful escape from the harsh realities of the world.
In the film, Robbie’s character navigates between two worlds: a fantasy realm filled with beautiful dolls, known as Barbie Land, and the real world, where things are far from perfect. Tuzova, much like the character in the film, prefers the fantasy world of Barbie Land. Unfortunately, due to Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine conflict, the official distribution of the Barbie film was delayed in the country. However, some cinemas found a way around this by planning to screen a digital copy of the film “for free” as part of a double feature with a shorter Russian film.
Tuzova contributed 300 dolls from her collection for an unofficial premiere of the film in Moscow on September 9. Although she had initially hoped to watch the film for the first time on the big screen, she ended up watching a pirated version to satisfy media requests for her reaction to the film.
Tuzova’s fascination with Barbie began in her childhood. She recounted how, after her father passed away when she was just six months old, she grew up with “nothing.” As she showed off her impressive collection, it was clear that each Barbie, from the Army and Air Force dolls to the Party Time and Pretty Flower dolls, held a special place in her heart. All the dolls were meticulously kept in their original boxes to preserve their value.
The film’s portrayal of Barbie Land as a haven from the imperfect real world resonated deeply with Tuzova. For her, the world of Barbie represents a realm of possibilities, creativity, and beauty, providing a much-needed escape from the challenges she faces in her everyday life.
In a world where many adults struggle to find outlets for their creativity and imagination, Tuzova’s passion for Barbie dolls serves as a reminder of the importance of finding joy and solace in the things we love.
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