Unusually good

Rating: 9/10 (18 October 2006)

I wasn't sure what to expect when i saw this film.
Some of my queer friends raved about it, but I often worry that that they get the "wrong impression" about transsexual/transgender folk by what they see in films. As a transsexual woman this is an obvious concern of mine. And yet, just like STONEWALL (which gives a fictional history of the event based on the life of a Drag Queen) I found that I could relate quite well to this.
The main character *isn't* transsexual (despite what it says in the summary above) but transgender. They undergo a crude form of reassignment surgery in order to leave Germany, not to change gender. And there in is the crux of the film, because ultimately Hedwig regrets that decision, as the outcome was less than perfect.
There is much reference to Plato's concept of "seperated souls" - Hedwig feels incomplete and "between places", and the denouement is really about the main character rejecting the constructed identity that we see them appear as for most of the film, and reclaim their soul in the process.
A powerful fun film, that requires a number of viewings to fully appreciate.