I am a twenty-something male who takes perhaps a bit too much joy in his hair. My stylist of choice at my favorite salon is named Chuck, and he does fantastic work; which, frankly speaking, he'd better, considering the sum I pay him. The whole situation is fantastically stylish and absurdly, yet delightfully, posh...but no matter how I cut it, I am faced with a rather unsettling and inescapable fact. I am a murderer.
This is a rather recent revelation, and one that I credit to Bluerain Films' 2002 documentary Barberland, which has just been rereleased on DVD. Creators A.D. and Robert Liano have crafted a piece which explores the origins as well as the cultural signifigance of one the most recognizable pieces of Americana. Yet, while a major part of the film is devoted to showing where the country's barber industry has come from and how it has progressed, there is also a message of warning that comes through loud and clear.
As America has developed, and our society has evolved, the ways of the neighborhood barbershop have faded into the background. Barberland argues that the loss of these traditional pillars will bring about a decisively negative effect on society. These institutions have historically provided a cultural gathering space, where men could come together in an open environment, yet still be secluded from their female counterparts. It was a safe haven from the rush and frustrations of everyday life. It has thus been a necessary outlet for the social sphere, and one that we are not yet able to replace as it begins to vanish.
Barberland tells its story through the use of a collection of interviews, edited together to emphasize a variety of themes and topics that progress throughout the film. While not exactly a cinematographic masterpiece, the film's low-quality production in no way detracts from its ability to weave together the story of the industry. The documentary is fantastically edited to get a variety of different perspectives from barbers with diverse backgrounds on the topics, and at the same time provide near-seamless segues from one discussion to the next. In this way do we learn all about the experience of barber college, the tools of the trade spanning across centuries, and the lost art of the barber shave; as well as the different racial and cultural issues that have arisen in American barbershops. A large amount of different viewpoints provide us with a variety of different explanations, and often there is no clear indication of which story is myth and which is fact. The only general consensus that all barbers seem to have: the Beatles haircut was the beginning of the end for the business.
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