John Cameron Mitchell’s 2001 adaptation of his off-Broadway show is a rollicking, funny, near-classic movie musical. Teetering on high heels, Hedwig and the Angry Inch never outruns its origins, nor does it pretend to. Born a boy in East Berlin, young Hansel grows up to suffer a botched sex change operation and a twofold sense of loss. We learn Hedwig’s life story in stops along her band’s desultory U.S. tour as she pursues her former lover to claim songwriting royalties and reclaim a piece of her heart. In its debt to Tommy, Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Toni Tennille (believe it), the movie is almost impossible not to enjoy. Hedwig takes a simple song of hope and makes it sound like an arena-filling anthem. Movie screens at midnight. (R) BRIAN MILLER

Fri., Nov. 9; Sat., Nov. 10, 2012