Swan Song

Swan Song (II) (2021) was written and directed by Todd Stephens. It's a narrative film, but the protagonist, Pat Pitsenbarger was a well-known flamboyant gay hairdresser in Sandusky. When director Stephens was young, he knew Pitsenbarger. Also, Stephens gathered anecdotes about Pitsenbarger from other people who had known him.

Pitsenbarger is portrayed by Udo Kier, who is a brilliant actor. The movie rises or falls on the talent of the protagonist, and in this case it rises.

Pitsenbarger has retired from hairdressing, but he has been called from retirement to dress the hair of a wealthy woman who has died.

This is, indeed, a road movie, but the road leads from Pitsenbarger's nursing home to the funeral home, both of which are in Sandusky. The plot consists of his encounters as he walks out of the facility and heads towards the funeral home.

This may sound like a pretty feeble premise, but it's just the opposite. The movie was overlooked when it was released. In fact, I'm just the second person to review it. That's too bad, because it's really good film. The movie has an excellent IMDb rating of 7.6. However, that's based on the ratings of just 44 IMDb members. I though it was much better than that, and rated it 9.

P. S. See if you can recognize the dead woman, named Rita Parker Sloan. (She appears in flashbacks and in Pitsenbarger's memories.) She's almost 80 years old, and she still looks great.

It took 13 years but Todd Stephens finally return as a director with Swan Song. And personally, I think this is his best so far. Mainly because of the always charismatic Udo Kier who was able to defy the sometimes campy yet melancholic Stephens' narrative. While the film is sorely too subdued or moody for its own good, but at least it still has room for some moving and emotional moments.

Just saw Swan Song, and I was totally taken with Udo Kier's performance as Pat. He is a retired hairdresser and gay cabaret performer who lives in a nursing home. When he is offered 25K to do the hair & makeup on a deceased friend ( Linda Evans); he initially refuses . But he then leaves the home to do the job. We find out why he at first refused to help, and his story unfolds as he walks through the streets of Sandusky, Ohio. He meets old and new friends and each plays a part in telling his story.

Great supporting cast with Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Urie and even Linda Evans in a brief appearance.

A lovely movie about growing old as a gay man, and the lives that were lived back in the days of bars and drag shows, and how gay life has evolved and changed. And how one man , dubbed the Liberace of Sandusky found out how many lives he actually touched.

Former small town hairstylist, Pat (Kier), has been spending his days in a retirement home recovering from a stroke. When he receives news that his friend and client, Rita (Evans), has passed away and wanted him to do her hair for her funeral, he gathers up enough strength for one last hurrah, meeting all sorts of interesting characters and resolving past drama on the way.

Swan Song is one of the few films to feature a lead performance by veteran character actor, Udo Kier, and he proves himself to be more than up for the challenge. His character of Pat is will probably be reminiscent of many small town hairdressers who were, unfortunately, born at the wrong time and had to deal with so much more oppression than many of the LGBT people of today.

Jennifer Coolidge turns in an equally great performance as Kier's former student/rival and she's not borrowing from her usual bag of comedy tricks. She creates a fully lifelike and moving character for the few minutes that she's on screen.

Swan Song might be a little too episodic at times, but it all wraps up in a moving and heartfelt way and it's one that's worthy of being seen by wider audience.

Other reviews say it better but I'll say it with less words. Watch this and enjoy! It's a great film with a beautiful story.