Review of The Danish Girl (2015) by Royce S — 27 Dec 2015

By far the performances in this film are what substantiate my five star rating. I have nothing but praise for both Alicia Vikander and Eddie Redmayne. I think many reviews are spot on when they observe Ms.

Vikander outshines Mr. Redmayne, but not as a surprise, and not because Mr. Redmayne did not live up to the requirements of his role. I am basing my opinion not on the book, or a reading of what I am sure is a profound historical account of both figures, but simply in the storytelling of this script.

A heroine journey requires profound internal transformation. Yes, the physical transformation of Einar to Lili is beautiful and profound, but as a plot journey it is simple and direct. By becoming Lili, we see a character come home to her true self by overcoming first confusion then fear.

Lili realized who she was and became that. Gerda, however, in my opinion, questioned herself, struggled with her circumstances, struggled with her self identification and her relationship with the world around her certainly more rigorously and profoundly; and what she worked for throughout the entire journey was to be more and more loving, a Sisyphian task for the most ardent when external circumstances are a catalyst for internal change.

I think the arc of the story indicates my assertion most accurately, but to oversimplify, when Gerda is brought into Hans's office, she is received as "a Danish Girl" perhaps tipping the hat to the titular role.

Lili also openly admits many times that she had been there all along. The Gerda we meet at the beginning of the movie is a harsh contrast to the open-hearted Gerda we see at the end; a successful heroine who arrived at a completely new place that had not been home though more authentically her.

Please let me be clear. I am not saying that a transition from one gender to another is not heroic; that is just inaccurate. I do not minimize the powerful struggle and hope that people go through. But in this script, the most profound inner journey belongs to Gerda and not Lili.

If it were Lili's it would be a very different story.