Saagar Kote
‘A Very Merry Beauty Salon,’ Lifetime’s romantic drama film, tells the story of Sienna, the owner of the “Divine Beauty” salon in Atlanta, and Lawrence, the owner of “Uzuri Wines.” Sienna, who runs the salon with the support of her friends Ella and Kimmy after her divorce, is preparing for the Tinsel Ball, where she will be honored for her charitable work. She meets Lawrence, who is the co-sponsor of the event, and their initial encounter turns into a romantic relationship. Although the two develop deep feelings for each other, their personal insecurities threaten to drive them apart. They must ultimately overcome their own doubts to find lasting love before time runs out.
Directed by Bobby Yan, the film delves into ideas of love, friendship, loyalty, and meaning. The beauty salon “Divine Beauty” and the wine brand “Uzuri” both play significant roles in the narrative, as they are closely linked to the ups and downs in the lives of the main characters. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Divine Beauty is a Salon With a Mission of Social Welfare
Written by Tara Knight, ‘A Very Merry Beauty Salon’ is a poignant navigation of the complexities of love. Divine Beauty plays a vital role in the character arc of Sienna, which also affects the overall fate of Lawrence. Although a fictional creation, Divine Beauty reflects the philosophy of Sienna and her focus on social welfare through charity. The salon also represents the economic growth of the African-American community and the challenges it faces. At the same macro level, Divine Beauty is a modern, upgraded, and friendly beauty salon that caters to the needs of its customers, who are mainly from the African-American community. It is a female-run business that understands the importance of beauty and the challenges associated with maintaining it.
Despite turning a profit, parts of it are donated to solve local problems. In a way, the salon can be seen as an extension of Sienna herself. Her altruistic nature is represented by the salon, which mainly serves the middle class. Through Divine Beauty, the film comments on the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility and the need to connect with local communities. Sienna also hopes to open her own hair care business by using the profits of the salon, which represents the fighting spirit of the middle class in America. Divine Beauty is also a space for honest conversations between Sienna and her friends.
It is more than just a salon, but also a second home for Ella, Kimmy, and Sienna. Their involvement in the salon and their deep friendship help them navigate the various challenges of life. Their conversations within the setting of the salon add to the authenticity of the story, which remains grounded in social issues and cultural realities. Ultimately, Divine Beauty is a character in itself and signifies the socioeconomic realities of Sienna’s community, and also the values she represents through charity.
Uzuri Wines is a Family Run Business With a Concern For Legacy
In ‘A Very Merry Beauty Salon,’ “Uzuri Wines” is said to have been started by Lawrence’s grandfather. It is an African-American-owned business that has a legacy dating back a few decades. It also represents the motivations, goals, and personality of Lawrence. Lawrence is given the ownership of the wine brand by his father, who worries about the future. Being set up in the Napa Valley region, it produces high-quality wines for its customers. However, one of the major issues it faces is that of continuity and legacy. Lawrence’s emotional insecurities arise from the fact that his father is expecting him to take Uzuri to new heights. This creates a rift between Sienna and Lawrence in the narrative. Uzuri is also a representation of wine expertise, as Lawrence possesses the ability to distinguish between different flavors.
It also highlights the difficulties faced by owners of wine businesses, as they deal with targets and expectations. Uzuri is not just a wine brand, but also a symbolic representation of the chaos within Lawrence’s mind. The narrative also manages to portray the wine brand without glorifying or romanticizing it. It represents family and hard work. Through its co-sponsorship of the Tinsel Ball, it also gets involved in the activities of the local community through charity. Much like Divine Beauty, Uzuri also cares about uplifting the local community. Social engagement is one way through which Uzuri wishes to distinguish itself from other brands in the market. It wants to be authentic, while also catering to the taste buds of the modern consumer.
Ultimately, both Divine Beauty and Uzuri are fictional creations that exist in the film, but their business models, through their owners, reflect the importance of community service, local engagement, and the importance of legacy and authenticity in the business world. Thus, ‘A Very Merry Beauty Salon’ symbolically chronicles the ups and downs in the lives of Lawrence and Sienna through the two brands that they own and love.
Read More: Is Wani Waras Herbal a Real Company?
