Todd Haynes: Superstar - The Karen Carpenter Story

Todd Haynes' (Velvet Goldmine, Far From Heaven...) 1987 biopic of Karen Carpenter (43 mins), in which the wholesome pop starlet's demise and descent into anorexia nervosa is played out by an ensemble cast of Barbie Dolls. Managing to twist an incrediably ironic onslaught of bittersweet lullabies out of The Carpenters' back catalogue, the film deftly weaves Barbie theatrics with TV footage, public information, spanking flashbacks, and images of the holocaust. (Thanks Ted).