Barbers – A Men’s Story

Often acting as a confidant, the barber has always been at the heart of society and its evolution. Once a highly respected member of society, the barber does more than just cut hair and shave beards, that molto delicato art. His is one of the oldest professions in the world, which many fear is on the verge of extinction—taking with it its cozy salons and traditional barbers’ chairs.

Here, it is the barber’s turn to share all his secrets. We will see men tell their stories in a self-deprecating manner, with a candour that shows their emotional vulnerability. These are men who have seen the world change, since World War II to the present, and who realize they are in their twilight years. Parallel with the vanishing of barber shops, the central theme of the film is aging—a taboo subject in a world that moves faster and faster and refuses to face aging.

Barbers – A Men’s Story takes us into barbershops, a haven where men can talk freely among themselves. The film features barbers who describe their love and passion for their work. These endearing and dedicated men, who have been their customers’ trusted confidants for decades, are approaching the twilight of their careers in a trade that is slowly dying out.

Claude Demers

Claude Demers
Film director – Producer – Writer
Self-taught filmaker

features
barbers – a men’s story (barbiers – une histoire d’hommes)
Canada, 2006, Betacam, coul. 78 min. / 52 min. Documentary. Les productions cdfilms inc.
• Marché du film (Cannes); Leeds (England) & Festivals in Canada
• Two nominations at the Academy of canadian cinema & television – Prices Gémeaux
*** Best Director & Best Editing - The event wil be September the 9e 2007

the invention of love (l’invention de l’amour)
Canada, 2000, 35 mm, coul. 87 min. Fiction. Les productions cdfilms inc.

• Official competition in Internationals Festivals : Festival des films du monde de Montréal (Canada) - Festival international du film francophone de Namur (Belgium) - Festival international de Vancouver (Canada) and others festivals in Europe and USA

 

shorts films

a night with you (une nuit avec toi)
Canada, 1993, 16 mm, coul. 28 min. Fiction. Production Amérique Film.

• Official competition in Internationals Festivals : Festival de Clermont-Ferrand (France) - Festival de Huesca (Spain) - Festival de Namur (Belgium), etc.

*** Price: Best Actress (Linda Roy) at the Festival de Yorkton (Canada)

the devil is a little girl (le diable est une petite fille)
Canada, 1990, 16 mm, n&b, 27 min. Fiction. Les productions du Nouvel œil.

• Official competition in Internationals Festivals : Clermont-Ferrand (France) - Festival de Bilbao (Spain) - Festival de Namur (Belgium) - Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal (Canada), etc.

the happiness (le bonheur)
Canada, 1986, 16 mm, n&b, 18 min. Fiction. Les productions du Nouvel œil.

• Official competition in Internationals Festivals (Clermont-Ferrand, etc.) also the film has been release in 60 city’s in Europe (France, Italy, Germany, England, Belgium)

summer (l'été)
Canada, 1995, 16 mm, coul. Fiction. Sketch of 4 min. for the feature Un film de cinéastes with differents Canadian filmakers
• Opening night at «Rendez-vous du Cinéma québécois» (Canada) & Vision du Réel (Nyon)