Hollywood Beauty Salon
Film
Review
by Kam Williams
Inspirational
Documentary Chronicles Camaraderie among Mental Health Patients at
Philly Beauty Parlor
The
Hollywood Beauty Salon is located in Germantown, PA, an area of
Northwest Philly founded by settlers from Germany back in 1683.
Today, the town is predominantly African-American as are most of the
folks you'd meet at this unique establishment.
What
makes this hairdresser different is that its patrons and staff
members are all in recovery from mental illness and/or dependence on
drugs or alcohol. Shot over the course of four years, the movie
chronicles the camaraderie among the cosmetologists and clientele,
while simultaneously telescoping on the touching life stories of
seven of the shop's regulars.
There's
Rachel "Hollywood" Carr, the proprietor, a single mother of
three who battled anxiety, depression and Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder before becoming a Recovery Guide and a Certified Psychiatric
Rehabilitation Practitioner. At the salon, she not only serves as a
counselor but as a cosmetologist.
Rachel's
protege "Butterfly," a recovering schizophrenic, exhibits
considerable promise at braiding hair. The optimistic mother of three
explains that she picked her nickname because she's begun to blossom
after being in a cocoon marked by depression and paranoia. Still, she
misses her murdered big brother and worries about an incarcerated
son.
65
year-old Edward, a college grad, recounts how, at 26, his life was
derailed when he was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. A
classically-trained flautist, he nevertheless holds onto his dream of
one day playing with a professional orchestra.
The
spa's second in command is Darlene, a survivor of child abuse who
recounts how she was teased mercilessly growing up about her hair,
her looks and for being in the foster care system. One of her
customers is shown taking delight in being taught to read, while
another proudly pronounces "I am not my symptoms, I am not my
diagnosis."
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 88 minutes
Studio: Glennfilms / FreshFly
Distributor: Paladin
To see a trailer for Hollywood Beauty Salon, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meM7-w-Xf-U
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