Memorable, crazy movie

An Exercise In Nonsense

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

This is a documentary account of the development of Hedwig and the Angry Inch from John Cameron Mitchell's original idea, through the stage show, to the movie. The producer-director Laura Nix has complied interviews with all the key personnel, such as Hedwig writer-director-star Mitchell, composer Stephen Trask, actress Miriam Shor, Mitchell's parents, and others. These are mixed with terrific footage of Hedwig stage performances, all the more thrilling for having been shot by amateur filmmakers at the time, and behind-the-scenes glimpses.John Cameron Mitchell comes across as talented, articulate, and enormously charismatic; and this documentary manages to be entertaining and informative as well as being very clear-eyed about the creative process from which Hedwig grew. I especially enjoyed the stretch which depicted the transformation of a dilapidated hotel in New York City into a theatre. This is a very good documentary which transcends its 'DVD extra' origins to become a fascinating film in its own right.

Unfortunately this is only available on the DVD, but "Whether You Like It Or Not - The Story Of Hedwig" details every aspect of the cult phenomenon from its early days as an experimental performance piece at Squeezebox to the Sundance Audience and Best Director-Award winning film. See it