Diana Martinez
Aug 29, 2017 · 2 min read

John Cameron Mitchell spent seven years with the character of Hedwig, playing her off Broadway to great acclaim and then starring and directing the film adaptation.

Mitchell’s connection to the character is evident in an interview with PopMatters,

where he discusses his and Hedwig’s struggle with identity, “I certainly wanted Hedwig’s world to be one where identification and categories are fluid, changing, and confusing, as they are, really, in life. You know, coming out as a gay man, it was very much about finding my own identity and dealing with labeling. I quickly found that I didn’t really fit into ‘gay culture,’ as identified by many gay people, and that it can be just as confining as straight culture […] Hedwig compares herself to the Wall, being ‘between’ things, you know, but she’s also a bridge. One of Stephen’s [Trask] lyrics is, ‘There’s not much difference between a bridge and a wall.’ You can step on either, to cross, but they also divide. Hedwig can’t go into any of the social structures that exist for comfort, and she’s completely on her own, while also realizing that she doesn’t want to be alone.”

Film Notes

)

Diana Martinez

Written by

Education Director @FilmStreams.

Film Notes

Films Currently Playing at the Ruth Sokolof Theater

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade