When you think of small-town Ohio hairdressers, you may not immediately imagine Udo Kier. However, in the upcoming SXSW film, “Swan Song,” Kier flexes his hairdressing muscles, and as seen in an exclusive clip from the feature, you’re not the only one that doesn’t immediately think of the actor as a professional stylist.
“Swan Song” stars Kier as Pat Pitsenbarger, a retired hairdresser living in a nursing home in Sandusky, Ohio. Content with just living his life in the home, Pat finds himself with a new mission when a former client says her dying wish is to have the hairdresser work on her final hairdo. With the need to find the right products to make this wish come true, as the clip shows, Pat finds himself struggling on his journey through Sandusky.
The film stars Kier opposite Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Evans, Michael Urie, Ira Hawkins, and Stephanie McVay. “Swan Song” is written and directed by Todd Stephens. The filmmaker’s previous features include “Gypsy 83” and “Another Gay Movie.” “Swan Song” is the spiritual successor to “Gypsy 83” and “Edge of Seventeen,” which he wrote the script for. The three films form his Ohio Trilogy.
“Swan Song” is playing as part of this year’s SXSW Film Festival. A formal release date has yet to be announced.
Here’s the synopsis:
Retired hairdresser Pat Pitsenbarger (Udo Kier) has given up on life from the confines of his small-town Sandusky, Ohio nursing home. But when Pat gets word that a former client’s dying wish was for Pat to style her final hairdo, he sets out on an epic journey across Sandusky to confront the ghosts of his past–and collect the beauty supplies necessary for the job. SWAN SONG is a comical and bittersweet journey about rediscovering oneself, and looking gorgeous while doing so.