Visiting men in their various domains, from pubs to barbershops, filmmaker Laura J. Lukitsch opens a window into the way men think about relationships, work, religion, and identity. Turning her lens towards the sometimes humorous power dynamics of growing and shaving facial hair, her exploration takes us to six countries and twelve cities to view the contemporary influence of the West and find that in the area of beards, personal choice is not always what it appears to be.

Filmmaker Laura J. Lukitsch never noticed men’s facial hair.  That is until she ran into a busload of Germans competing in a World Beard and Mustache Competition. This chance encounter sent first-time documentary maker Lukitsch and her camera on an unexpected five-year journey into the world of barbershops, bathrooms, pubs, and various male meeting places. In the process she discovered that the decision to shave or not to shave is not so private or individual as she originally thought. 

‘Beard Club’ reveals the social politics of facial hair.  Weaving together found footage, animation, personal narration, and interviews with both men and women, she takes a hard but humorous look at the serious subjects of stereotyping, prejudice, freedom, and self-expression that are linked to facial hair. Around the world, strict cultural norms still have a strong role in determining facial hair fashion. With globalization more than just goods are exchanged:  beard trends, and the ideas they represent, are exportable, too.

Traveling to five countries, from Italy to India, and crossing the United States, Lukitsch seeks to understand men's relationship to their beards and uncover the hidden meanings associated with facial hair. Individuals share their reasons for wearing facial hair – including religious men, ZZ Top, former 60’s activists, world beard competitors, a bearded woman, and a young Arab graphic novelist (among others)  - and relay their thoughts on beards as symbols of rebellion, patience, godliness, gender, identity, and more.