Follow My Voice: With the Music of Hedwig

I recently saw this documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival. I had not seen Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the time I saw it, but really liked it. Basically, the film follows the recording of a tribute album to Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the proceeds of which go to the Hetrick-Martin Institute in New York, which runs the Harvey Milk School for at risk youth (primarily gay, lesbian, and transgender students forced out of their home high schools by violence). At the same time, the film also follows a handful of students at HMS through their lives and experiences.

I have since seen Hedwig, but I still think that Follow My Voice works best when it is focusing on the HMS students. The Hedwig recordings make a great soundtrack for the film, but it seemed like it was going in two different directions. That said, it was still a great movie and I would definitely recommend it to others - it just could have been better. As it is, it is a pretty good documentary that will make most viewers reconsider their preconceptions about sexuality and gender.

being a huge fan of hedwig and the angry inch, i was very excited to see this documentary. i was not disappointed. this films follows a group of people who actually do something to help others in need and it is refreshing to see a cult hit go beyond the normal boundaries of a play/movie/soundtrack. i was moved by the kids in this film who just wanted an education and have suffered so much for their identity and education. i really wanted to give them all a big hug and let them know that some of us do care and that activism can do some good.

i was pleasantly pleased to see the crystal ballroom in this film, being from portland it definitely gave me a rush of excitement to see people from all over the country get involved. please go see this film and buy the album. help your fellow humans get an education.

This is the story of the recording of "Wig in a Box" which was a tribute album featuring the music of the show "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" that was a benefit for the Harvey Milk School. The Harvey Milk School is a school primarily for gay, lesbian or trans-gendered kids in New York City. The story of the recording of the album is inter-cut with the story of four kids who go to the school.

I loved the show of "Hedwig" when I saw it in New York. It was an earth shaking, life affirming experience. The story of a transsexual semi-rock star looking for love is ultimately one that we all can relate to.It has a score that is absolutely one of the best ever written for the stage. I turned on several people to the show by playing them the score. The music for me has become part of my life so when the tribute album came out I snapped it up. Now to be able to see how the album came together is a treat. Here are people who understood what made the play and the songs resonate through everyone who ever came upon them.

Adding a glorious dimension to the film is that they have taken the lives of four kids who are in their way Hedwigs, and shown them just trying to get by and thrive in their worlds. Its a wonderful portrait of some kids who thought they were outsiders and who found a place to not only belong but to allow them to accept themselves. Its moving beyond words.

SEE this movie.

For those of you who have never seen the show of "Hedwig", this is movie will make you feel the way the show did(not the movie,the show-this is what the movie should have been)