Thinking of hair and hair cuts reminds me of Roland Topor. An artist told me a story about him, I don't know if it's a true story but I like to believe it is.
Topor, of course, is responsible for the look of La Planete sauvage -a film made haunting by its intricate and gruesome design. He also wrote the novel on which Polanski's The Tenant is based, played Renfield in Herzog's Nosferatu and created a French "news" show hosted by a puppet cat.
above: Telechat
As the years passed, Topor (as will happen) began to lose more and more hair. Occasionally he would notice this in public, at a cafe, on a park bench, in a meeting. He would tape down the lost follicle and draw an elaborate illustration based on the line.
above: titles to Viva La Muerte
above: the beginning of Fantastic Planet (La Planet sauvage)
Topor has left us these films and countless incredible illustrations. Just as I like to imagine there's some 10 year old cancer patient out there robbing banks and littering the crime scenes with my DNA from the wig they got last Christmas, I like to think that restaurants of Paris are spruced with ornate doodles of monsters and sexual organs.
Sheesh... I'm sad to say I've never seen La Planet sauvage. I've always meant to, but never got to. Now I'm even more ashamed that I haven't seen it... thanks.
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