Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a great movie if you can get past the first few minutes - and the songs will be in your head for days!
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a musical that chronicles the life of a transgender singer, Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell), from his/her strict German upbringing to her life in the states. Don’t let it scare you off, though, it’s actually a very entertaining movie, and the songs will be in your head for days!
The movie is a montage of memories that interrupt the present to tell Hedwig’s backstory. Hedwig and her fictional rock-n-roll band sing mainly songs about Hedwig’s life.
Hedwig’s life begins in East Germany, where he was likely abused by his father and other men. He meets a man who wants to marry him pending a gender change, so they can travel together to America. Hedwig isn’t in America for long before she finds out her husband is having an affair the same day the Berlin wall comes down.
Soon after, she meets Tommy (Michael Pitt), a young man who, like her, loves to sing. Together, they enjoy four months of bliss filled with songwriting, singing and performing. Hedwig creates Tommy’s image and gives him his stage name, Tommy Gnosis. After four months, however, Tommy finds out Hedwig’s secret, and leaves.
Tommy ends up stealing Hedwig’s songs and becomes more successful. Hedwig and her band follow him around the country and perform at smaller, nearby venues.
When Hedwig’s band falls apart, she becomes a prostitute who Tommy ends up picking up and subsequently tries to reconcile with her. Just as they are about to make up, Hedwig crashes the limo and the tabloids are all over the story, which propels Hedwig to greater fame.
The movie closes with Hedwig tearing off her female clothing to embrace herself, as she is sans makeup and wigs and glamour.
Written by: Abby Riese
Reviewers Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 10.00
Reader's Votes: 1
Added: 2-May-2007
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