The Barbershop (2026) – Review and Summary | Tribeca Film Festival

No matter where you are in the world, if you’re Black, the barbershop could be your second home.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on Hours Updated on

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“The Barbershop” Film Details

Movie Summary

Niels is adopted, raised in Danish territory, and doesn’t feel Black. But, after finding out about a local barbershop, he tries to fit in, and the owner, or lead barber, Shaka, helps him understand that Blackness isn’t just what you see in television, movies, videos, and magazines.

Cast and Characters

Niels (Maada Mambu Kaikai)

  • Character Summary: Niels is an adoptee, raised by well meaning white folk, who didn’t immerse him in his culture. So, he is seeking to find community at the barbershop.

Shaka (Bobby Atiedu)

  • Character Summary: Shaka is the head barber who is tasked with cutting Niels head and helping him navigate blackness in a white country.

Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

Finding A Black Community Wherever You Go – And Realizing Being Black Isn’t a Monolith [84/100]

Stereotypes exist in a multitude of forms and aren’t exclusive to the US. We see this with Niels as he seems to transform from a more basic persona to an urban one, imitating how a rapper would speak. It’s comical, especially as everyone in the barbershop makes it clear there is no need to perform.

They like doing activities that aren’t normally advertised or featuring Black people. Niels can find a place to keep his hairline together, in a Nordic country, where he doesn’t need to feel like an outsider. It’s truly a beautiful thing and shows how much the barbershop, across countries and continents, is a staple in the Black community.

Overall

Our Rating (84/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)

The Barbershop is a wonderful ode to what barbershops offer for Black people, especially Black men. It allows not only for grooming care but also belonging in ways that feel a bit more guaranteed and possible.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.