Review of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) by Peter D — 06 Dec 2011

I honestly think that this just may be the most accomplished *queer* film that was ever made. It is deeply rooted in the tradition of queer cinema as it is camp and over the top, tackling issues like genderconfusion, coming of age and being in love with the same sex.

It's narrative patchwork is pure independent cinema, and the low budget is wisely used. So far so good. What pulls this out of the neverending stream of mediocre queer movies that is that it transcends the limitations of the genre at every twist and turn.

Extremely well written glam/rock/punk-songs, inspired acting, great depth in the charakters under the flashy costumes and setpieces, a script that is both entertaining and thought provoking. Asking the viewer to think about the question that stands front and center throughout the film, embodied in Hedwig herself, *how can we become whole again*.

Centerpiece in this glam rock extravaganza is the Song *Origin Of Love* that is the starting point of Hedwigs personal journey. As the film progresses her search for *beeing whole again* or at least the possibility of it, reveals it's unversal appeal and when the final performance song of *Midnight Radio* lights up the silver screen with it's pride and it's love for the misfits and outcasts, that becomes a great cinema moment: truthful and uplifting in a way that surprises as well as confirms that rock and roll still can be a form of revelation and liberation.