Hedwig and the Angry Inch

John Cameron Mitchell is known for pushing film in both style and substance. This is clearly displayed in his work Shortbus, but that's a conversation for a different, and hopefully soon, day. Today we're discussing Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I discovered this film in high school. It was a favorite for a guy that I had a total crush on. He was a senior. Imagine, if you will, my first experience watching this brilliant film with the crush of my life. #gayboyheaven

But I digress...Hedwig tells the story of Hansel Schmidt (John Cameron Mitchell), an East German boy who falls in love with an American GI, Luther Robinson (Maurice Dean Wint). Luther decides to marry Hansel, thereby giving him an escape from Communist East Germany. Hansel dons a ponytail wig and his mother's passport and prepares to leave Germany for good. That is, however, after he has a sex change to pass the test through customs. It gets botched. Hints, the angry inch.

Later, after Luther leaves her for another blond boy, Hedwig meets a much younger Tommy Speck (Michael Pitt) and she teaches him about music and the world. But Tommy is unable to come to terms with Hedwig's "angry inch" and the relationship dissolves. The film follows Hedwig as she travels on the same concert tour path as Tommy. Hedwig claims to write all of the music that the now famous Tommy Gnosis (name given to him by Hedwig) performs.

I've encountered very few films like Hedwig. The film is a play on Plato's Symposium that argues that at one point people were physically connected to the people they were supposed to be with. Love is the pain of searching for that person and attempting to reform that connection. Throughout the film, Hedwig searches for her lost love, her other half.

The film is both intellectually stimulating and entertaining. With music by Stephen Trask, the songs stick with you. It's actually through the music that the story is told. There are also cartoon effects used to heighten the experience. It's specifically used when moving into a flashback.

This film is one of those golden queer films that hasn't gotten nearly enough attention. The film opened to critical acclaim and while it has developed a cult following, it's never found major success. Opening in 2001, the film won two Sundance film awards, Best Director and Audience Awards. I think it deserves much more.

10 Points for A Queer Lead Character 
08 Points for Acting 
09 Points for Screenplay 
09 Points for Cinematography 
10 Points for Overall Impression 
10 Points for Soundtrack 
07 Points for Editing 
07 Points for Creativity and Originality  
09 Points for Direction 
10 Points for Judge's Discretion  

89 Points