Overview

A documentary that traces the brief, radical life of German countertenor Klaus Sperber as he becomes the extraterrestrial New Wave icon Klaus Nomi. Narrated by Melvil Poupaud, the documentary follows him from his post-war Bavarian childhood and classical opera roots in West Berlin to 1970s New York City. In the East Village underground scene, Nomi fuses baroque opera arias with cold-wave synth-pop, crafting a striking persona with white clown makeup and retro-futuristic outfits. The film highlights his 1981 breakthrough in France with "The Cold Song" before turning to his tragic final days. In August 1983, Nomi died alone in a Manhattan hospital at age 39, isolated by the fear and stigma surrounding AIDS. Blending rare archival footage with interviews from collaborators like Joey Arias and Kristian Hoffman, alongside artists like Christine and the Queens, the film celebrates his legacy as a pioneering queer icon.