In and out of jail for the last seventeen years, Francis Duffy can’t seem to cope in the outside world. He can’t structure his life or pay his bills. But on the inside, Duffy is a virtuoso barber—three-time winner of the Scottish Prison Service hairdressing competition—and by his own account, a social worker, a psychologist, and the best-known guy there. With only days to go before his release, Duffy defends his title. Adrian McDowall and Finlay Pretsell serve up this crisply shot, reflective visual essay with precision and dexterity. More than the story of a competition, this highly meditative narrative clips quickly through a cast of inmates, their musings, and their hairstyles. Duffy’s story and a snappy score combine brilliantly to make this short film play like a feature, leaving you to wonder what happens next. The real prize for Duffy is getting out, but will he be able to cut loose from the system once and for all?  WM