Hedwig and The Angry Inch (2001)

"Don't you know me Kansas City? I'm the new Berlin Wall. Try and tear me down!" And I'll say it now: you won't be able to! Because Hedwig will come into your life like a force so powerful you won't know what hit you.

Hedwig and The Angry Inch (2001) - *****

I'm always a little bit bugged when people ask me what's my favorite movie of all time. I've watched so many movies (and still have so many to watch - thank god!), and thankfully there are many which were able to touch me in a special way, but whenever that awful question pops up the first movie that comes to me is the mind-blowing Hedwig and The Angry Inch.

I recollect seeing Hedwig's great reviews in the news at the time it hit Theaters around the world, gathering prizes everywere it went, and even getting John Cameron Mitchell a nomination for best actor in a musical on the Golden Globes (which is unusual for such an indie film with limited release). And I must say it took me a really long time to watch Hedwig. About six years! And now I can't remember my life b.H. (before Hedwig). Have I gotten into your head how good this movie is? If the answer is no, keep reading and I hope I'll have you by the end of the post.

Adapted from an off-Broadway play, the movie was written for the screen and directed by the amazing John Cameron Mitchell, who also plays the title role, as mentioned previously. It tells the story of a lonely young boy named Hansel living in Communist East Berlin with his mother in a tiny appartment. A boy who enjoys rock and roll and dreams of going away. And when that day comes, Hensel turns (with a little pushing) into Hedwig. But not before leaving something, some part of himself, behind. Literally! And when he achieves his dream of going away to a land of freedom and possibilities, with the man he loves, everything seems to fall apart and that's when Hedwig is split into two and has to find his way home again.

And the way this journey is shaped through some of the finest glam rock music you'll ever hear, along with an outstanding perfomance by Mr. Mitchell (I became a fan of his after this movie), accompanied by what seems to be childish animation, which is delightful and actually perfect for the tone of the movie. At first, this seems to be another story of a hurt soul looking for its other half, but Hedwig is so much more than that! Such a sensitive movie, with a well developed character that will make you sympathize and pity him and even make you think you he's dead on the inside. But Hedwig is far from dead. Actually he's fighting for life with all his being. He's fighting for love! What Hedwig himself doesn't realise untill the very end of the movie is that he's as much to "blame" for what happened to him as for the others he likes to find fault in. And aside from that, he's not gonna find his other half on another person, but within himself.

I think at the end, along with my favorite song of the movie, Midnight Radio, he sings the lyrics that summarize what the movie Hedwig and the Angry Inch is all about: "Know in your soul, like your blood knows the way, from your heart to your brain, know that you're whole". When I first saw this movie I was left in awe, blinded by tears, with goosebumps from the thrill of this amazing ride! And have no doubts, you WILL need to have the soundtrack, for it is unbelievably good! From the love ballad "Origin of Love" to the sarcastic "Sugar Daddy" you'll be joining in no sooner the wig leads you to sing-a-long! Thus, I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did, for this movie was the thing I didn't know I needed last year. It taught me so much about myself and gave me a new perspective on things and people all around me. Of course this movie could only be rated with five stars (for I cannot surpass that)!

And I guess that's a wrap! I'll be back next Thrusday, if not sooner!