THE FILM
TITLE: The Barber of Little Rock
RELEASE DATE: 21 Jul 2023
WATCH DATE: 19 Feb 2024
TYPE: documentary short film
ACCESS: streaming on YouTube (published by The New Yorker)
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THE PEOPLE
DIRECTOR: John Hoffman, Christine Turner
PRODUCER: John Hoffman, Christine Turner, Devon Blackwell, Christina Avalos, Christopher Hwisu Kim, Taren Robinson
WRITER: NA
ACTORS: Arlo Washington, Terrence Anderson
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THE STORY
RUNTIME: 35m
STORYLINE: a barber sees a desperate need for banking opportunities in his community and establishes the first bank in his black community
GENRE/THEMES: documentary, black culture, banking, racism, building wealth, financial struggles
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THE CRITIQUE
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
This short film makes the most of every minute. The impact of racism on banking and the lack of availability of financial resources for black communities is perpetuating their struggle to rise above and prove the stereotypes about them wrong. ‘Banking-while-black’ is a real deal that these people are facing, and Arlo Washington has done something about it.
In Little Rock, AK Washington opened up a financial firm to support the black community - because there are no banks where black people live. He works with the government and other programs to receive funding and then opens his doors to anyone and everyone who walks in looking for help. A woman fresh out of prison looking to start a new life with nothing? He’s got a loan for her. A man who needs a couple months' rent to ensure a roof over his family’s head? There’s a fund for that.
Having started as a barber who gave a loan to a regular customer, he saw the need and thought, how can I make this a resource? He also runs a barber school as another way to invest in his community, giving those interested an opportunity to step into that profession. He also has now opened the only bank within a ten-mile radius, creating possibilities for building wealth that were previously impossible for the black community on that side of the tracks in Little Rock.
While it instills anger and frustration at the prevalent racism and lack of opportunities for fellow Americans, the film itself is missing a passion and originality that could set it apart from other short films. Not competitive in its category, but still quite educational and inspiring.
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THE RECEPTION
NOMINATIONS
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THE IMPRESSION
IN A SINGLE WORD: eye-opening
MOST STRIKING ELEMENT: impact of racism on banking
REWATCH: yes
RATING: 3 // 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐
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