Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

A fascinating and exciting film. John Cameron Mitchell wrote the stage play, directed the film, and stars as Hedwig.

Born a boy in communist East Berlin, Hansel is discovered while sunbathing face down by a US Army Sergeant. The sergeant took Hansel for a girl but isn't put off when he turns over and all is revealed. Hansel always had leanings to be a girl and now has a backstreet sex change, and becomes Hedwig, and migrates to the USA as the sergeant's wife.

But it's not successful; the operation left Hedwig with a stump of a penis, the angry inch, and the relationship doesn't last. Hedwig survives somehow in the USA and performs in Glam Rock ... not quite Drag Queen ... situations, but never makes it commercially. Her style is bitter, yet witty enough to be entertaining.

The action is mainly Hedwig's singing, which I enjoyed immensely, interspersed with some cartoon animations

The fabulous wigs and costumes are by Mike Potter.

This is Yitzhak, played by Miriam Shor.

HF November 2001

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