“I am not my diagnosis” were the words that resonated loudly in the amazing documentary “Hollywood Beauty Salon. Directed by Glenn Holsten, this cinematic testimony of mental health recovery was filmed in Philadelphia’s historic section of Germantown. The salon is the backdrop for the healing process for the participants of GERMANTOWN RECOVERY COMMUNITY. The salon isn’t currently open to the public, but for the participants serves as a haven for their vivid accounts of abuse, mental health survival and chilling tales of heroism.
Many would agree with the mindset, “If you look good, you feel good,” and I truly connected with one voice, Rachel – the brainchild of the salon concept. Rachel is the product of foster homes and an abuse survivor. Not only is she the single mother of two, but also works as salon staff. She intended the idea as merely a common ground for people like herself to feel safe in their various levels of transparencies – but little did she know the larger impact it would have.
Glenn Holsten acted as the director to bring this story to life, but the men and women that profoundly expressed their ups and downs of mental illness were the true champions.
Read more from Christopher Weaver on musicmoviesthoughts.com.
Hollywood Beauty Salon is a colorful and inspiring documentary about surviving mental illness and violence, struggling with loss, finding courage for recovery, and discovering the beauty inside each one of us.
