brilliant

Rating: 9/10 (12 April 2004)

Remarkable musical of German transvestite star telling her life star while on an unsuccessful US tour. Director/writer/star Mitchell is terrific as Hedwig, managing to emote real feeling through about five pounds of makeup. Also quite a good singer, with excellent songs.
Sometimes a movie comes out that is described as being one long MTV video, and this is justifiably portrayed as a bad thing, but Hedwig proves that an MTV video movie can be a very good thing indeed. Songs are filmed in a variety of ways, some animated, some straightforward, but all are entertaining. Like the musicals of yore, the songs progress the plot, or at least the back story that makes up the bulk of the plot, so unlike in most rock songs the lyrics are even more important than the music. Funny and fascinating, this is something you shouldn't miss.