The Danish Girl

• Posted by Trines x x January 2, 2016 #  #  #film  962 views
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  Saw ‘The Danish Girl’ today on the first day of its local release and thought I’d blog my initial thoughts.  A very disappointing audience of 15 for the midday screening (which admittedly might have been a bit early for all those seeing in the New Year!).  I hope attendances improve as the film is worth seeing, even for those without our special interest. 

   

  The story is about the transgender Danish artist Einar Wegener who some 6 years after transitioning as Lili Elbe underwent, in the early 1930’s, the world’s first sex reassignment surgery from which she ultimately died. The film play is described as ‘highly fictional’ (it had to be because of the absence of detailed biographical details) but between the screen play and Hooper’s 2000 novel of the same name, the writers have played extremely fast and loose with the known historical facts which is a shame as the truth is just as riveting.

   

   For example, Lili underwent 4 operations over a period of time – orchidectomy, a single ovary transplantation, penectomy and then finally a vaginoplasty and uterus transplantation. She died 3 months after the final surgery of a heart condition caused by uterus problems. Her marriage to Gerda Gottlieb, also an artist, had been annulled some years previously and Gerda had been living with her new husband in Africa for some time. Yet the film gave Lili only two operations (penectomy & vaginoplasty) and had her dying in hospital the day after her second op, in the arms of her wife.

  

   Lili painted by Gerda Wegener c. late 1920's

   The writers make Lili repeatedly say she was two distinctly separate people, the male Einar and the female Lili.  I found this rather troubling as this is not the case with the tgirls I know or with me and I transitioned publicly six months ago. I am and always have been the one predominantly female person who has had to present herself as a man for most of her life until just recently but even though I am now Trines 24/7 I am still the same person inside I have always been.  I can’t help fearing that cisgender people will come away from this film thinking all transgenders are hopeless and potentially dangerous schizophrenics!

  

  I also was one of the many in the transgender communty upset  the film producers wanted a known box office attractive actor in the lead role instead of a transgender actress who would surely give a much more realistic performance?  However, I have to say I’ve changed my mind as Eddie Redmayne is quite superb and brings intelligence and understanding to an outstanding performance. He has a real gift of acting with his eyes; there were numerous silent passages with him in close-up where his pupils were windows into his mind where you could hear/feel all his many emotions. Impressive. He is destined to be nominated for many awards but it must be admitted it is a peach of a part in which any half-decent actor with the right build and looks would excel. 

   

  Alicia Vikander as Gerda

  Just as good, in my opinion, was Alicia Vikander playing Lili’s wife, Gerda. Possibly a more difficult role and in danger of being unfairly overshadowed by the built-in extra theatricality of Lili’s character, she too can act well with her eyes and was particularly good at realistically conveying her confusion, fear and deep despair when realising she was losing her husband for good.. A very satisfying performance indeed. 

                

                   Einar Wegener, Lili Elbe & Gerda Wegener c. 1926
  

   

  The supporting actors were all nicely cast, the period feel of the 20’s/30’s came through convincingly and the drama of the piece, despite its many factual liberties, moved along commanding one’s attention, so much so I did not notice one note of the film score (I can only assume there was one!). 

   

  I had several tissues at the ready throughout the screening but didn’t need them until after the film had ended; it was when the credits started with a dedication to Lili, praising her brave pioneering spirit and how she has acted as the touchstone for the transgender community ever since.  I lost it.

   

  Do see it.

   

  Please.