Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

Based on the hit stage musical of the same name with book by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, this film tells the story of genderqueer rock star Hedwig and her travels through the United States with her backing band The Angry Inch.

Born and raised in East Berlin in the years of the Iron Curtain, Hansel (John Cameron Mitchell) lives in an incredibly dysfunctional household. Growing up with a love of music, and plenty of confusion around gender identity, Hansel takes his mother’s name (Hedwig) and begins a relationship with American soldier Sergeant Luther Robinson (Maurice Dean Wint).

With promises of a better life in America, Hedwig falls for Luther hook, line and sinker. When he proposes marriage, she accepts. However, in order to get married to a man under the oppressive regime, she must undergo a sex change operation. Her mother sends her to a surgeon who unfortunately botches the operation terribly, leaving Hedwig severely disfigured.

Shortly after arriving in the US, Luther leaves Hedwig for another man. Shockingly, that same day, the Berlin Wall is brought down, making Hedwig’s sacrifice for nothing.

Yitzhak (Miriam Shor) and Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell).

Turning to music to deal with her frustrations, Hedwig begins a solo career, and eventually works with other bands, eventually settling with a band calling themselves The Angry Inch (an homage to Hedwig’s botched operation).

Along the way, Hedwig falls in love with another singer/songwriter, conservative Christian Tommy (Michael Pitt). This relationship also doesn’t end well, and Tommy goes on to a hugely successful solo career, but all of his songs are written by Hedwig, who receives no credit for her work.

When the film begins, Hedwig is involved with bandmate Yitzhak (Miriam Shor). The entire story is told with moments of flashback, as well as through the songs that the band perform as they travel around the country, closely following Tommy’s tour, as Hedwig hopes to confront him about their songs and receive appropriate recognition and compensation for her work.

Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell).

The screenplay, by John Cameron Mitchell, closely mirrors the stage show, and as it written by the same person, is a decent adaptation. There are minor changes, as one would expect with a change in form, but the film works well despite this.

Stephen Trask, the composer/lyricist of the stage show, has also composed several sections of original score for the film. Thematically, these are predominantly based on melodies and themes from the songs, and in each instance, perfectly suit the moments in which they occur. Trask also appears in the film, as Skszp, guitarist for The Angry Inch.

The costume design, by Arianne Phillips, is absolutely superb. There are so many fabulous outfits in this film, all of them beautifully suited to the various characters.

Tommy (Michael Pitt) and Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell).

Also the production design - courtesy of Thérèse DePrez - is fantastic. Each set and location reveals so much about not only character, but setting. The film has a very gritty, real feel to it, and it is predominantly the production design that achieves this look and feel.

The performances of the cast are also great, with the clear standout being Mitchell, who also premiered the role on Broadway. Miriam Shor (who also played her role on the stage) is fabulous as Yitzhak, and Michael Pitt is as good in this film as he is in any other (which, for the record, is very good).

Director John Cameron Mitchell has made a brilliant film here, a faithful adaptation of the stage show, but in its new medium, opening the story and spectacle up to a whole new audience. If you haven’t seen this film, get on it right away. And if you have, it wouldn’t hurt to watch it again.

8 out of 10.