Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

John Cameron Mitchell

Writers (WGA):

John Cameron Mitchell (book) and
Stephen Trask (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 July 2001 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

An anatomically incorrect rock odyssey

Plot:

A transexual punk rock girl from East Berlin tours the US with her rock band as she tells her life story and follows the ex-boyfriend/bandmate who stole her songs.

Plot Keywords:

Rock Band | East Berlin | Sex Change | Berlin Germany | Reference To Kant

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 27 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

John Cameron Mitchell	...	Hedwig
Miriam Shor	...	Yitzhak
Stephen Trask	...	Skszp - Band Member
Theodore Liscinski	...	Jacek - Band Member
Rob Campbell	...	Krzysztof - Band Member
Michael Aronov	...	Schlatko - Band Member
Andrea Martin	...	Phyllis Stein
Ben Mayer-Goodman	...	Hansel - 6 years old
Alberta Watson	...	Hansel's Mom
Gene Pyrz	...	Hansel's Dad
Michael Pitt	...	Tommy Gnosis
Karen Hines	...	Tommy's Publicist
Max Toulch	...	Goth Menses Boy
Maurice Dean Wint	...	Sgt. Luther Robinson
Ermes Blarasin	...	Fat Man
Sook-Yin Lee	...	Kwahng-Yi (as Sook Yin Lee)
Maggie Moore	...	Trailer Park Neighbor
Renate Options	...	Tranny Hooker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Taylor Abrahamse	...	Singing Boy (uncredited)
Thérèse DePrez	...	Laundromat Customer (uncredited)
Mary Krohnert	...	Rabid Fan (uncredited)
Shane Mackinnon	...	HedHead (uncredited)
Alan Mandell	...	Patron at restaurant (uncredited)
Eileen Murphy	...	Singer (uncredited)
Rosie O'Donnell	...	Herself (uncredited)
Mike Potter	...	Renate Options Options - 2nd call girl (uncredited)
Michael Stevens	...	HedHead (uncredited)

Directed by
John Cameron Mitchell

Writing credits (WGA)
John Cameron Mitchell		book for the musical play "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and
Stephen Trask		book of musical play
John Cameron Mitchell		(screenplay)

Produced by
Colin Brunton	....	line producer
Michael De Luca	....	executive producer
Amy Henkels	....	executive producer
Pamela Koffler	....	producer
Katie Roumel	....	producer
Mark Tusk	....	executive producer
Christine Vachon	....	producer

Original Music by
Stephen Trask		(original score)

Cinematography by
Frank G. DeMarco

Film Editing by
Andrew Marcus

Casting by
Susan Shopmaker

Production Design by
Thérèse DePrez

Art Direction by
Nancey Pankiw

Set Decoration by
Liesl Deslauriers

Costume Design by
Arianne Phillips

Makeup Department
Debra Johnson	....	key hair stylist
Mary Monforte	....	key makeup artist
Cynthia Patton	....	assistant hair stylist (as Cynthia Ann Patton)
Mike Potter	....	hair stylist: "Hedwig"
Mike Potter	....	makeup artist: "Hedwig"
Rita Stapleton	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Colin Brunton	....	unit production manager
Suzanne Colvin	....	production manager: additional photography (as Suzanne Colvin-Goulding)
Carla Fry	....	executive in charge of production
Peter Phillips	....	post-production supervisor
Heather Ross	....	production manager
Hanna Tower	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dara Bratt	....	trainee assistant director
Felix Gray	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Karl Irvine	....	second assistant director: additional photography
Katrina Lee	....	third assistant director
Andrew Marcus	....	second unit director
Patrick Murphy	....	third assistant director: additional photography
Kristie Sills	....	second assistant director
Patrick Tidy	....	first assistant director
Andrew Pritchard	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Debra Armstrong	....	art department production assistant
Shan Barr	....	on-set dresser
Michaela Cheyne	....	graphic artist
Michaela Cheyne	....	second assistant art director
Cheryl Chung	....	artist
Rae Crombie	....	assistant property master
Rae Crombie	....	props: additional photography
Darryl D. Deegan	....	on-set dresser (as Darryl Deagan)
John Deslauriers	....	set dresser
Jeremiah Dickey	....	artist
Brian Fowler	....	construction coordinator
Alistair Hepburn	....	art department production assistant
Suzanne Hoffman	....	lead set dresser
Emily Hubley	....	artwork designer
Yoori Kang	....	artist
James Kinnie	....	artist
Tara Knight	....	artist
Phaedra Kolias	....	artist
Biljana Labovic	....	artist
Jose Martinez	....	artist
Raoul Martinez	....	carpenter
Brad Milburn	....	art department apprentice
Steve Mita	....	artist
Elizabeth Moran	....	clearances
Elizabeth Moran	....	second assistant art director
Mario Moreira	....	property master
Linda K. Moroney	....	artist (as Linda Moroney)
James Ridyard	....	painter
Tullis Rose	....	set dresser
Tanya Sakolsky	....	art department intern
Jason Sills	....	slide guy
Glen Smith	....	carpenter
Janice Thompson	....	key scenic painter: additional photography
Joanne Thompson	....	head scenic artist
Ethan Trask	....	graphic designer
Miguel Villalobos	....	visual consultant

Sound Department
Jason Blackburn	....	additional sound recordist: additional photography
David Boulton	....	adr recordist
Benjamin Cheah	....	supervising sound editor (as Ben Cheah)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Mark Cusack	....	boom operator: additional photography
Keith Elliott	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound designer
Daniel Hamood	....	assistant sound editor
Ruth Hernandez	....	assistant sound editor
Kenton Jakub	....	adr supervisor
Robert Kennedy	....	monitor engineer
Robert Kennedy	....	sound playback operator
Andre Lapalmo	....	sound recordist: EPK (as Andre Lapalme)
George A. Lara	....	foley recordist
Kimberly R. McCord	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly McCord)
Paul McGlashan	....	boom operator
Cate Montana	....	assistant sound editor
Igor Nikolic	....	first assistant sound editor
Tim O'Heir	....	sound recording engineer
Glenfield Payne	....	sound effects editor
Daniel Pellerin	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Jennifer Ralston	....	foley supervisor
Jac Rubenstein	....	dialogue supervisor
Paul Simpson	....	sound recordist
Wyatt Sprague	....	assistant sound editor
Andrew Tay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brad Thornton	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Urmson	....	sound designer
Kelly Wright	....	sound recordist
Lila Yomtoob	....	apprentice sound editor

Special Effects by
Gorett Ala	....	special effects key
Sean Armstrong	....	special effects key
Harry Chaggaris	....	special effects key
Tim Good	....	special effects coordinator
Derek Liscoumb	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
John Bair	....	effects animator
Trevor Bajus	....	digital artist
Jamie Hallett	....	digital compositor
Chris Kairalla	....	digital effects supervisor
Scott Lawrence Klein	....	coordinating producer
Stanley Monahan	....	optical effects
Dave Salter	....	digital artist
David Tecson	....	effects technical supervisor

Stunts
Taryn Ash	....	stunt player
Randy Butcher	....	stunt player
C.J. Fidler	....	stunt double: Hedwig, additional photography
Bryan Renfro	....	stunt coordinator
Bryan Renfro	....	stunt player
Bryan Thomas	....	stunt player

Camera and Electrical Department
Roger Bate	....	gaffer: additional photography
Jonathan Brown	....	best boy electric (as Jonothan Brown)
Randy Brown	....	generator operator
Bob Davidson	....	gaffer
Demitri Economou	....	electrician
Chad Edwards	....	electrician: additional photography
Andreas Evdemon	....	camera trainee
Chris Faulkner	....	key grip
Tyler Faulkner	....	best boy grip: additional photography
Tyler Faulkner	....	grip
Sophie Giraud	....	still photographer
Stewart Grayburn	....	dolly grip
Rich Green	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, additional photography
Rob Haid	....	best boy grip (as Robert 'Gump' Haid)
Doug Hamilton	....	camera loader: additional photography
Gary Hart	....	electrician
Howard Holden	....	generator operator
George Hosek	....	camera operator: "b" camera, additional photography
Joan Hutton	....	camera operator: EPK
Paul Langridge	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Doug Lawrance	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Doug Lawrance	....	camera operator: additional photography
Josh Levy	....	camera operator: behind-the-scenes footage
Lisa Logan	....	dolly grip
Lisa Logan	....	key grip: additional photography
Mike Macauley	....	electrician (as Mike MacCauley)
Norine Mark	....	second assistant camera: additional photography
Kaelin McCowan	....	first assistant camera
Aaron McGrath	....	generator operator
Aaron McGrath	....	generator operator: additional photography
Manuel Neves	....	best boy grip
Charles O'Keefe	....	electrician: additional photography
Gottfried Pflugbeil	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
Rafy	....	still photographer
Kelly Richardson	....	electrician
Gavin Smith	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Mike Sokoluk	....	grip: additional photography
Denise Taylor	....	second assistant camera
Paul Thompson	....	video assist operator
Victor Vukosavljevic	....	camera trainee: additional photography
Chris Warren	....	best boy electric: additional photography
Ramesh Yogendran	....	electrician
Lisa Logan	....	key grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
Celia Bullwinkel	....	animator
Jeremiah Dickey	....	animator
Emily Hubley	....	animation designer
Emily Hubley	....	animator
Emily Hubley	....	producer: animation sequence
Sal Malimo	....	track reading/animation photography: Mimondo Productions Ltd.
C.J. Sarachene	....	animator

Casting Department
Luisa Cabbidu	....	extras casting assistant
Robin D. Cook	....	casting: Canada
Zameret Kleiman	....	extras casting
Andrea Kool	....	casting assistant: Toronto
Erica Palgon	....	casting assistant: USA

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jozi Conte	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Jozie Conte)
Anna Dal Farra	....	assistant costume designer
Les Handrahan	....	wardrobe assistant: truck
Karen Steele	....	wardrobe cutter

Editorial Department
Cristina Cacioppo	....	post-production assistant
Jack Deutchman	....	executive in charge of post-production
Chris Hinton	....	color timer
Myron I. Kerstein	....	additional editor (as Myron Kerstein)
Perri Pivovar	....	assistant editor
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Annellie Rose Samuel	....	first assistant editor: Toronto (as Annellie Samuel)
Maisie Weissman	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Patrick Derivaz	....	additional music recording engineer
Matthew Ellard	....	additional music recording engineer
Alexis Fleisig	....	musician: score, 'Girls Against Boys'
Perry James	....	band musician
Eli Janney	....	musician: score, 'Girls Against Boys'
Mark Kaufman	....	music clearance executive: New Line
Robert Kennedy	....	location music playback operator
Dick Kondas	....	assistant music recording engineer
Annette Kudrak	....	music editor
Alison LaCourse	....	music assistant (as Alison Lacourse)
Alex Lasarenko	....	composer: additional music
Doug McClement	....	location music recordist
Scott McCloud	....	musician: score, 'Girls Against Boys'
Tim O'Heir	....	music mixer
Tim O'Heir	....	music recordist
Bill Orrico	....	assistant music editor
Blair Packman	....	location music recording assistant
Dana Sano	....	music executive: New Line
Damian Shannon	....	assistant music recording engineer
Lori Silfen	....	music business affairs: New Line
Alex Steyermark	....	executive music producer
Johnny Temple	....	musician: score, 'Girls Against Boys'
Stephen Trask	....	composer: songs
Stephen Trask	....	musician: score
Ike Zimbel	....	location music recording assistant
Eric Perlmutter	....	music assistant (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Mike Adams	....	transportation captain: additional photography
Owen Baird	....	driver: honeywagon
Brad Bell	....	transportation coordinator
Rob Bertrand	....	driver
Tony Bifano	....	transportation coordinator: additional photography
Bill Bowman	....	transportation captain
Brian Davey	....	head driver
Rob French	....	driver
Roy Ignagni	....	driver
Don Lamoureaux	....	driver
George Mantis	....	driver
Mickey McAllister	....	driver: additional photography (as Mickey McAllistar)
Johnny Opasinis	....	driver
Gaby Revesz	....	driver: additional photography
Jim Ryder	....	driver
Michael Thomas	....	driver: additional photography

Other crew
Laird Adamson	....	production executive: Killer Films
Taryn Ash	....	stand-in
Claire Best	....	production executive
Paul Brennan	....	production counsel (as Paul Brennan Esq.)
Andrew Capelli	....	titles: vBureau.com
Jonathan Contreras	....	locations production assistant: additional photography
Brent Cox	....	production counsel: Sloss Law Office P.C.
Rachel Dawson	....	assistant: Amy Henkels
Danielle Depeyre	....	script supervisor
Jack DePoe	....	production office assistant (as Jack Depoe)
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant
Jennifer Gaylord	....	production counsel (as Jennifer Gaylord Esq.)
Michelle Gebert	....	post-production accountant
Amy Goodman	....	business affairs executive: New Line
Keanne Goulet	....	location production assistant (as Deanne Goulet)
Gerhard Hauck	....	language consultant: German
Jocelyn Hayes	....	development executive: Killer Films
Deirdre Hughes	....	production secretary: additional photography (as Deidre Hughes)
Scott Hunter	....	production assistant
Scott Hunter	....	production assistant: additional photography
Joshua David Jordan	....	voice
Stephanie Keating	....	unit publicist
Randy Kumano	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Dan'l Linehan	....	rough-cut screener
Arlene Lum Lock	....	payroll
Sandra Lum Lock	....	production accountant
Brandon Long	....	assistant location manager
Brandon Long	....	location manager: additional photography
Neil Lumlock	....	location manager (as Neil Lum Lock)
Shana MacMahon	....	on-set craft service
Sarah Mae	....	on-set craft service
Jon Marcus	....	production executive: Killer Films
James Mauro	....	assistant to line producer (as Jim Mauro)
Jen McCann	....	production intern
Marlene McCarty	....	titles: vBureau.com
Stacey McKay	....	key accountant: additional photography
Jerry Mitchell	....	choreographer
John Nadalin	....	production office assistant
Terrence Nelson	....	assistant: J.C. Mitchell (as Terry Nelson)
Monica Perez Gelbman	....	post-production accountant (as Monica Perez-Gelbman)
Brad Peyton	....	assistant to producers
Greg Rang	....	production resources
Sara Robichaud	....	stand-in
Heather Ross	....	production coordinator
Jesse Rupert	....	first assistant accountant
Catherine Sample	....	assistant production coordinator
Megan Sanchez-Warner	....	production associate: Killer Films (as Megan Warner)
Tim Sebert	....	production intern
Sharon Seto	....	electronic press kit
Bradford Simpson	....	head of development: Killer Films (as Brad Simpson)
Hanna Tower	....	production coordinator
Dylan Verrechia	....	intern
Daniel Wagner	....	head of operations: Killer Films
Jane Walker	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Nikia Nelson	....	production assistant: additional photography (uncredited)

Thanks
Kevin Adams	....	special thanks
Todd Armitage	....	thanks
Jonathan Arnold	....	thanks
Peter Askin	....	special thanks
Stephen Bachner	....	special thanks
Anne Bakoulis	....	thanks
Scott Bilbrey	....	special thanks
David Binder	....	acknowledgment: originally produced in New York City by
David Bowie	....	special thanks
Susann Brinkley	....	acknowledgment: original off-Broadway stage production produced by
John Bruce	....	special thanks
Terry Byrne	....	special thanks
Ellen Cavolina	....	special thanks
Tom D'Ambrosio	....	special thanks
Dean DeLeo	....	thanks
Robert DeLeo	....	thanks
Danny DeVito	....	special thanks
Susan Dietz	....	special thanks
Arnie Engelman	....	special thanks
Alli Farrell	....	special thanks
Danny Fields	....	special thanks
Doug Foote	....	thanks
James B. Freydberg	....	acknowledgment: original off-Broadway stage production produced by
Werner Fritsching	....	special thanks
Gina Garan	....	special thanks
Jean-Paul Gaultier	....	thanks
Eric Gilliland	....	special thanks
Judith E. Goldman	....	special thanks (as Judy Goldman)
Mitchell Goldman	....	special thanks
Adriano Goldschmied	....	thanks
Josh Greir	....	special thanks
Peter Hawkins	....	thanks
Todd Haynes	....	special thanks
Richie Jackson	....	special thanks
Tom Kalin	....	special thanks
Brian A. Kates	....	special thanks (as Bryan Kates)
Eva Kolodner	....	thanks
Abbie Konowitch	....	special thanks
Eric Krotz	....	thanks
Michael Leon	....	thanks
Eric Levine	....	thanks
James Lyons	....	special thanks
Alan Mandell	....	special thanks
Steven M. Martin	....	thanks
Dave McKinley	....	special thanks
Rebecca Meis DeMarco	....	thanks (as Becca Demarco)
John H. Mitchell	....	special thanks (as Maj. Gen. John H. Mitchell)
Mrs. John H. Mitchell	....	special thanks
James Morrison	....	special thanks
Jeff Newton	....	thanks
Keith Nobbs	....	special thanks
Rosie O'Donnell	....	special thanks
Kevin O'Neil	....	special thanks
Eric Osben	....	special thanks
Rifat Ozbek	....	thanks
Dolly Parton	....	special thanks
Jodi Peikoff	....	special thanks
Lou Reed	....	special thanks
Laura Rosenthal	....	special thanks
Steven Saporito	....	special thanks
Michelle Satter	....	special thanks
David Schmerler	....	special thanks
Michael Schmidt	....	special thanks
Bob Schwartz	....	special thanks
Miriam Schwartz	....	special thanks
Vin Scolsa	....	special thanks
Efrem Seeger	....	special thanks
Lori Seld	....	special thanks
Jack Steeb	....	special thanks
Joe Stefko	....	thanks
Joan Stein	....	special thanks
Christine Taylor	....	special thanks
Fabio Toblini	....	special thanks
Michael Trask	....	special thanks
David Tumblety	....	thanks (as Dave Tumbelty)
Sergio Valente	....	thanks
Scott Weiland	....	thanks
Chris Weilding	....	special thanks
Jonathan Weisgal	....	special thanks
JoJo Whilden	....	thanks (as Jo Jo Wilden)
Diane White	....	special thanks
Stephen Winter	....	special thanks
Joe Witt	....	special thanks
James Youmans	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Killer Films
• New Line Cinema

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (video)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Aurum Producciones (Spain)
• Fine Line Features (2001) (USA)
• GAGA (2001) (Japan) (all media)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• New Line Cinema
• Nexo

Special Effects

• Edgeworx (digital effects)
• Good FX

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance
• Absolutely Famished  catering: additional photography
• Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA)  acknowledgment
• Bearsville Studios  music recorded at (as Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, NY)
• Bulloch Entertainment Services  payroll: Canada (as Bulloch Entertainment)
• C5  sound editing and design (as C5, Inc.)
• Cinema Completions International (CCI)  completion guarantee
• City of Toronto, Ontario  thanks
• DGC  acknowledgment
• DeLuxe Toronto  prints and color (as Deluxe Toronto)
• DeLuxe Toronto  sound re-recording (as Deluxe Toronto)
• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Dwight Crane Rentals  camera cranes (as Dwight Cranes)
• Earl Jeans  thanks
• Edgeworx  digital effects and animation
• Entertainment Partners  payroll: USA
• Film Effects  opticals
• Fujifilm  released on
• Gibson  guitars
• Grey Ant  thanks
• Helie Film Support Services  security (as Helie Film Support Service)
• Hubbub  animation designed and produced by
• Hybrid Recordings  soundtrack released by
• Joan Pearce Research Associates  rights clearances
• Kiehl's Since 1851  thanks
• LiveWire Remote Recorders  location music recording (as Livewire Remote Recorders)
• Ludwig Drums  drums (as Ludwig)
• M-A-C  make-up provided by
• Mimondo Productions Ltd.  animation photography
• Mimondo Productions Ltd.  track reading
• Moschino  thanks
• Murad Skin Care Laboratories  skin care products
• Nabet/700  acknowledgment
• Ontario Film Development Corporation  thanks (as Ontario Film Development Corp.)
• P.S. Production Services  camera dollies: grip and electric equipment
• Postworks New York  thanks (as the entire Postworks Staff)
• Sloss Law Office  production counsel
• Sorcerer Sound  music recorded and mixed at (as Sorcerer Sound, NYC)
• Starcraft  craft service
• Studio Catering  catering
• Sundance Institute, The  developed with the assistance of
• Technicolor Creative Services  animation processed by (as Technicolor)
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting
• Zildjian  thanks
• vBureau.com  titles designed by

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content and language.

Runtime:

95 min | Argentina:93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Portugal:M/16 | USA:R (certificate #37948) | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:11 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

The Eaton Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Killer Films

Trivia:

Mike Potter, who did Hedwig's hair and makeup for both the stage production and the movie, can be seen in drag in the scene where Tommy picks Hedwig up off the street, as the second call girl leaning against the wall. He was given the drag name "Renatta Options Options" by John Cameron Mitchell.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the opening sequence, Hedwig's hair jumps about between shots.

Quotes:

Hedwig: The road is my home, and my home, the road. And when I think of all the people I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me. Tommy, can you hear me? From this milkless tit you have sucked the very business we call show!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Another Gay Movie (2006)

Soundtrack:

Exquisite Corpse

I could never hope to praise this enough: 10/10

No matter how much I do praise it, I'll end up turning people against it. But, let me ask you: what were you expecting when you first heard of Hedwig and the Angry Inch? It's been billed as a punk rock musical about a transsexual from East Germany who was duped into coming to live in a trailer park in Kansas City. So what was I expecting? A gay camp film. I had no doubts that it would be anything else. And that's not to say that I wouldn't have enjoyed a gay camp movie. After all, I liked Moulin Rouge. But I got a surprise that was entirely unexpected: what I experienced was the best new film I had seen in years. And I mean that. Hedwig and the Angry Inch is equally hilarious and touching. Not that I want to spread cliches, but I seriously laughed and I seriously cried, often simultaneously. This manages to be the best American comedy since, damn, Preston Sturges was still writing and directing. It's easily the best movie musical since Cabaret. It's also one of the most heartfelt and passionate dramas, and one of the best character studies I've ever seen. Along with that, John Cameron Mitchell delivers a performance that perhaps hasn't been equalled since, I don't know, Robert DeNiro in Raging Bull, which might be the ultimate cinematic character study. I shouldn't say that, because it might hint that Hedwig is a dark character, but, well, I'd call her just a great protagonist. She's a heroine, especially to anyone experiencing sexual confusion, but even to me, a straight, Midwestern boy. Hedwig is a heroine for anyone who's ever felt that they've been treated like crap their entire life. I wanted to clap for and support Hedwig emotionally throughout the entire film. In short, Hedwig is a character I deeply loved, equal to just a few other characters I've met throughout my extensive journeys in the cinema. Parallel to a situation in the film, if I should ever see John Cameron Mitchell on the street, I'd have to hug him.

I also have another heap of praise that I have to go through before I am done. I've always thought that movie musicals adapted from stage plays were the death of the genre. Only a few exceptions ever seemed more than unimaginative, slavish films that worked only to bring Broadway to an audience who could or would never visit NYC. Cabaret was the one big exception that I had seen previously, but you also hear West Side Story mentioned as being a great film. But, in adapting a stage play for the screen, I always expect the film to seem stranded on stage. To boot, Hedwig had another mark against it: the director, Mitchell again, had never directed a film before. Well, I really don't know what training he had in the art, but it must have been enough. The cinematic art, at least the visual aspect of it, has nearly been forgotten in the 1990s and 2000s, but John Cameron Mitchell creates a visual tour de force as much as he does one of writing and acting. I love the scene where Hedwig the adult reminisces about how his mother forced him to put his head in the oven if he wanted to sing when he was a child. And Hedwig and the Angry Inch's (that's the band's name as well as the film's) appearance outside the Menses Festival next to the port-o-potties. A goth chick, who presumably didn't have tickets for the actual Menses Festival, watches the band in deep curiosity and confusion; Hedwig invites the girl to sit up on stage with her while she relates her past. I also love the sequence where the American G.I. discovers him laying naked in rubble. Hedwig's original name was Hansel, which leads to one of the funniest jokes I can ever recall seeing. Or how about the scene where Hedwig, when babysitting, discovers Tommy, the future rock star who steals all her songs, masturbating in the bath tub? That scene is handled so well that I almost died laughing. To tell you the truth, I don't think there is anything ostensibly wrong with the film, period. I just wanted to talk about the amazing direction because the one review of it I have on hand says "the direction can't help from being flat." FLAT? How can you say that it is flat? PS: The animated number and the song that goes along with it is adapted from Aristophanes' speech in Plato's Symposium, about which I wrote my senior thesis in college. The rock star's stage name, Gnosis, is Ancient Greek for "knowledge," which Hedwig actually says in the film. One of the filmmakers must have learned Ancient Greek at some point in his life. Bravo, good sirs.