Venus of Mars

Like a real-life Hedwig and the Angry Inch--comparisons to the 2001 film and off-Broadway hit musical are inevitable--Venus of Mars is an introspective, entertaining, all-access documentary about the everyday life of a transgender punk rocker. Artist, experimental filmmaker, and lead singer of Minneapolis's glam-fetish band All The Pretty Horses, Venus performs wild shows in vinyl corsets, leather thigh-highs, and nothing but pasties over her hormone-enhanced breasts--sometimes in front of less than welcoming crowds in Minnesota heavy metal bars. But at home, while just as androgynous, he (pronouns are exchanged liberally) is known as Steve to his English-professor wife Lynette, who has been his sweetheart since eighth grade. Filmmaker Emily Goldberg leaves no stone unturned in getting Venus's whole story on film, from capturing his/her spirit with dozens of Pretty Horses songs to documenting the history of his/her sexual identity issues (through high school photos, home movies, and interviews with parents and bandmates) to talking openly with Venus and Lynette about the shock to their marriage, why they stayed in love, and how they made it work. Meanwhile, the film also follows the band to New York, London, throughout the Midwest and onto unsuspecting morning TV talk shows, exploring acceptance, incredulity, bigotry, and serving up good humor along the way. ("Damn! I ran my stockings!" complains the baritone-voiced also transgender drummer while lifting a heavy amplifier.) A great rock 'n' roll documentary, as well as an unbiased look at the transgender world, Venus of Mars is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (R. Blackwelder)