Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Rank
Top 20% of all time (see others with this rank)
Festival Year
2001 (click here to see all competition films from this year)
Category
Dramatic Competition
Cast
John Cameron Mitchell, Andrea Martin, Michael Pitt, Miriam Shor, Alberta Watson
Non-Cast Credits
John Cameron Mitchell, Michael de Luca, Amy Henkels, Mark Tusk, Christine Vachon, Katie Roumel, Pamela Koffler, Frank G. DeMarco, Andrew Marcus, Therese DePrez, Stephen Trask
Description
With wicked humor, explosive imagination, and a gold mine of original rock n roll, John Cameron Mitchell makes an illustrious filmmaking debut with this screen adaptation of his critically acclaimed off-Broadway hit, Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Hedwig was born a boy named Hansel in Communist East Berlin who dreamed of finding his other half and becoming a big American rock star. When a handsome American GI promises love and liberation, it seems like a dream come true. But theres a catch in order to marry and emigrate Hansel must leave a little something behind. Hedwig survives a botched sex change operation that leaves her with an angry inch only to be stranded in a Kansas trailer park the very day the Berlin Wall comes down. Undeterred, Hedwig dons immaculate makeup and a Farrah Fawcett wig and forms a rock band The Angry Inch. While supporting herself with babysitting gigs, she falls for a 16-year-old Jesus freak she renames Tommy Gnosis. Tommy steals her songs and becomes the rock star Hedwig always dreamed shed be. Refusing to be defeated, she fiercely performs in the shadow of Tommys stadium tour at crumbling theme restaurants seeking recognition and retribution.
A beautiful and transcendent spiritual journey, this brilliantly conceived musical is every bit as powerful on screen as it is on stage. With a sparkling performance by Mitchell as Hedwig, a Grammy-nominated soundtrack by Stephen Trask, and beautiful animation sequences by Emily Hubley, Hedwig and the Angry Inch seems destined to take its place beside The Rocky Horror Picture Show as a cult classic for a new generation.
Reviewer
Shari Frilot (see other films reviewed by the same reviewer)