In 2013, Detroit, once the booming heartbeat of the American auto industry and the home of Motown, declared bankruptcy. As car factories moved abroad, over a million residents left, turning “Motown” into a ghost town. But inside one small Detroit barbershop, the soul of the city is still alive.
Meet Roberto (73), a legendary local barber who once styled the iconic hair of Motown’s biggest stars. Today, soul music still blares from his jukebox, and his regular customers, mostly over 70, still come in for the classic Chuck Berry glam hairdo.
Barber Shop Detroit is a moving short documentary about pride, survival, and nostalgia in the face of economic decay. It’s a story of how holding onto the past helps a community endure the present. As one customer puts it: “If you take care of your hair, your hair will take care of you.”
Barber Shop Episode 3 – Detroit / USA
Director: Luc Vrydaghs
Producer: Emmy Oost
Production: Cassette for timescapes
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Video “Detroit: Living in Ghost Town” was uploaded on 08/04/2026 to Youtube Channel Best Documentary