Pat Pitstenbarger has spent the last years of his life in a retirement home. With his partner long dead and Pat’s health not exactly in the best shape, he expects to spend the last years of his fabulous gay life in drab clothing and hiding alone with his nurses. When one of his former client’s dies, her attorney comes to find Pat. He initially declines the request to do her hair one final time (for her funeral), as this client betrayed him for another hair stylist in town. After some thoughts and reflections on his impending mortality, he sneaks out of the retirement home and heads home to Sandusky, Ohio to give his client one final hair style. On the way, he rediscovers the fabulous man he thought he thought he lost.
At first Swan Song, is difficult to watch. Udo Kier’s portrayal at Pat is intentionally slow and forgetful. You fear for his safety a few times and wonder if he is well enough to be doing what he is doing. You find him speaking to people who have long since passed. Where the film truly finds itself is when Pat goes to his old gay bar and helps a new Drag Queen get their act together, just before the bar closes for the final time.
Jennifer Coolidge was a surprise and a delight as Pat’s former employee turned rival hairdresser. I’ve never seen her play a straight role without excessive comedy. She is wonderful.
My absolute favorite moment of the film involves Pat in his full glory in a green suit and fedora, riding in a rascal down the middle of the street and smoking a brand of cigarette that no one smokes anymore, cars honking like mad behind him
Swan Song is touching, occasionally uncomfortable, and worth the ride.
Swan Song is currently playing at the SXSW Film Festival.
