Two lives are forever entwined during a chance encounter between Nate, a young black barber’s assistant, and a rowdy teen named John. As the pair’s unlikely friendship blossoms, decades worth of history sprouts from a single haircut, all while the world changes with them. Written by David Bickel and Michael Bickel, and directed by Jumai Yusuf, Nate & John charmed audiences at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.
What’s wonderful about the short is how pleasantly disarming the premise is. Each scene in the story exudes humility and an undeniable warmth. Humble from its opening shot, it introduces a surprisingly simple, hand-drawn aesthetic. Indeed, this unconventional artistic choice garners appreciation over time. Dialogue may be absent, but a playful, jazz-infused score by Pedro Osuna guides the journey of the two men beautifully.
Worthy of note is the fact that the film includes some crucial historical subtext as well, as its setting spotlights the civil rights movement of the 1960s and even Martin Luther King, Jr. Despite the challenges of marriage, raising children, and navigating social crises, their bond endures as they regularly reunite at the same barbershop.
The best way to describe Nate & John is irresistible. You most certainly don’t expect it to hit as poignantly as it does, but somehow you wind up wanting to know more about the lives of its characters. The more you watch, the more you become immersed. This short captures the essence of ordinary people as they live, laugh, grieve, and, above all, connect in their purest form.
