Barbarella, Space Babe

I once read a review of Barbarella (1968), from some long-forgotten blog, that called the titular heroine a “space slut.” That blogger seemed to mean it as a negative thing. Well, we’re decidedly slut-positive around here at the Starfire Lounge, so let’s make it clear we see “space slut” as a positive. There’s been a lot of discussion in recent years about women reclaiming “slut” and changing it from a pejorative to a positive descriptor. As played by Jane Fonda in the groovy interstellar farce—which happens to be one of my favorite movies of all time—Barbarella is an appealingly sexual being. Queen of the galaxy, space adventurer, or space slut: call her what you like, but she practically defies categorization. Still, nicknames are fun, so I like to think of her as The Ultimate Space Babe.

Barbarella opens with one of the most jaw-dropping credit sequences of all time, as we watch a blissful Barbarella floating through her spaceship in zero gravity, shedding her spacesuit until she’s stark naked. Fonda’s eroticism is off the charts here. Barbarella’s sexy reverie is interrupted when the President of Earth calls on the video-phone. The prez tells a completely nude Barbarella that he needs her for an important space mission. Imagine taking a Zoom call from your boss today while in your birthday suit. The president’s nonchalance in the face of Barbarella’s slammin’ body indicates that in the future we will be far more comfortable with naked bodies than we are today. Actually, it probably just indicates we used to be more comfortable with naked bodies in the 1960s than we are today.

This scene is a splendid introduction to our beloved space babe. Barbarella’s casual nudity and eager acceptance of the mission are endearing. It’s also incredibly cool she has her own spaceship to zip around the galaxy doing assorted jobs, all while maintaining a cheerful demeanor and plucky, can-do attitude.

That happy innocence leads Barbarella into a series of comical misadventures. Along the way she’s rescued from danger a few times, has sex with her alien rescuers, and even has a galactic-sized orgasm in the appropriately named “Orgasmatron” machine. Barbarella is new to physical intercourse—by this time earthlings are only having sex by taking pills to achieve sexual satisfaction—but she’s a fast learner, a real natural. It’s not surprising, as she has a warmth and kindness to her that seems wholly compatible with creating physical intimacy with another person.

Barbarella’s sex-positive jaunt through the universe is a rollicking good time, at least for this viewer. I’ll definitely be writing some more about my favorite space babe in future posts.