It's not what you expect. It's so much more.

Rating: 9/10 (11 May 2019)

What a brilliant fantastic film. What a character Hedwig is! So flamboyant, interesting, damaged, hurt, vulnerable and invulnerable at the same time. Her story is wonderful, simple and compelling. I was truly fascinated, the songs are marvelous. The audience resist her to a certain extent yet can't seem to stop listening to what she has to say, or better yet, sing. Her attitude towards her art is enviable; her life story flows effortlessly through her songwriting. And her rivalry with Tommy Gnosis tells us how much she's been hurt by him, and some flashback scenes tell us more about their true relationship, and how she changed him.
Apart from the character, John Cameron Mitchell crafted this amazing musical filled with songs from diverse genres. Standouts for me are Sugar Daddy, Origin of Love and the incendiary Angry Inch, which could be a punk anthem, it's an amazing song. What is great about Hedwig is that despite her diva antics, you are actually able to simpathize with her at a human level. She's flawed and you feel not only for her but also with her.
This sparks genuineness amongst the viewers who feel such an authentic piece of work unravel through music and fantastic performances. There is so much analysis one can go through by watching this film and listening to the songs, so it provokes deep thought as well.
All in all, John Cameron Mitchell created an extraordinary work of art that sadly doesn't get the recognition it deserves, but from the many reviews in here, you can tell it is something really special. Dare to watch it.