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The film is based on the true story of Hedwig (John Cameron
Mitchell), a transsexual woman who was born a boy in Communist Germany. Hedwig dreamed of
becoming an American rock star but after a botched sex-change operation that left her with
an "angry inch" also left her uncertain of who or what she is. Most of what we
see is told through songs, flashbacks and drawn images that outline the events of her
life. Also with Stephen Trask, Andrea Martin, Miriam Shor and Michael Aronov. [1:35]
SEX/NUDITY 8 - We see a man and boy in bed together (there are several
allusions to a father molesting his son). A man flirts with and admires a young man. A
young man is shown in a bathtub nude to the waist masturbating, and a transsexual woman
takes over (we see his gratified face and hear the water splashing rhythmically). A young
man pulls a transsexual woman toward him and they kiss passionately; the woman grabs the
young man's buttock and the young man reaches in the woman's skirt but stops when he is
shocked by what he feels. A young man touches a transsexual woman's hand, kisses her on
the neck and they kiss passionately. A man caresses a transsexual woman's face and they
kiss briefly, and there are a few other kisses. A transsexual woman tries to kiss a young
man but he pulls away, a young man kisses a transsexual woman's neck and back. A
transsexual woman and a man are shown in bed under sheets together (he's holding her from
behind) and we see some thrusting; they are shown in bed together a couple of other times.
We see a nude boy by lying on his stomach exposing his bare buttocks, we see a nude man
with a pile of candy covering his crotch; we see a nude young man who rolls over and
exposes a penis shaped puppet, we see a nude man from the back exposing his bare buttocks,
and we see a transsexual woman's bare leg up to the hip. We see a transsexual woman on
stage as she strips off her bra, her fake breasts and her wig revealing a bare-chested
man. A transsexual woman in a mini skirt stands over a man's head and wiggles her hips. A
transsexual woman stands in a street as men drive by ogling her. A young woman screams and
jumps on a young man (she's a groupie throwing herself at a rock star). We see a stick
drawing of a man and woman having sex and then the woman is shown dropping a baby from
between her legs. There is an animation of drawings which depict a nude man and woman
(including breasts, pubic hair and a penis). We see a transsexual woman throughout the
film in costumes which expose thighs, midriff and cleavage. A transsexual woman removes
her bra and we see her bare back. A transsexual woman waggles her buttocks at an audience
a few times, and in one scene she strokes her crotch with a microphone and in another she
strokes her crotch with the microphone stand. A transsexual woman grabs a man's thigh and
bites a guitar which is held by a man at crotch level. There are many sexual references.
VIOLENCE/GORE 4 - There are several references to and images of a botched
sex-change operation; we see a doctor with what looks like garden sheers. A man tackles a
man and a bar fight breaks out with breaking tables and bottles and food being thrown
around. A woman shoves, hits and yells at a man and a woman shoves hits and yells at a
young man. There are several allusions to a father molesting his son. A woman smacks a boy
on the head, and a woman throws food at a boy. A car crashes into a truck, the screen goes
black and we see the bruised and bandaged faces of the occupants. A woman repeatedly
pounds a guitar on a stage. A man kicks a pile of wigs and yells, a woman wrestles with a
couple of security guards, and a young man kicks things and yells in frustration. We see a
fur coat which has been splattered with blood (presumably). There is a drawing of a person
(with two faces) being spilt in half by a lightning bolt. A boy plays in an oven; we see
him lying in it.
PROFANITY 6 - 13 F-words, 2 scatological terms, 9 anatomical terms, 5 sexual
references, 5 mild obscenities, 2 religious exclamations, and some name-calling. [profanity glossary]
DISCUSSION TOPICS - Sexuality and sexual identity, Communism and the Berlin
Wall, Crucifixion, the origins of love, procreation vs. recreational sex, Adam and Eve,
stalking.
MESSAGE - Good things come to those who wait. Love is immortal.
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