Writer: Lucinda Coxon
Director: Tom Hooper
In 1920s Copenhagen, well-regarded artist Einar Wegener (Redmayne) agrees to stand in for an absent model in order for wife Gerda (Vikander), also an artist, to make progress on a painting. What begins as something of a joke, as Einar gamely dons stockings for Gerda's art and is christened "Lily" by friend Ulla (Heard with the exuberance turned up to 11), suddenly takes on a life of its own as Einar steps out in Danish society as Lily and comes to believe that he is in the wrong body...
The Danish Girl is a fascinating story and in Tom Hooper's hands it's handled with taste and sensitivity. Arguably, it's handled with too much taste and sensitivity, the chocolate box scenery, beautiful costumes and mannered dialogue threatening to mute the film's important message. I can understand that a movie centred around a transgender character is not going to be everyone's cup of tea but this movie goes out so far out of its way to avoid offence that it's chaste when it ought to be challenging.
Okay, there is occasional nudity but this is dealt with an almost apologetic way. I half expected someone to lean into the shot and say "Look, we know you might be watching this because you liked The King's Speech. We can get through this. Another twenty seconds and there's a lovely shot of the marketplace near the waterfront".
And yet, despite the fact that I felt the subject matter wasn't given the treatment it should have been, the excellent performances hold the interest and keep the movie very watchable. Eddie Redmayne may be a little too precise in his female mannerisms and to me he always looks like he's about to burst into tears but he certainly convinces as Einar/Lily and elicits our sympathy. We're fearful of him being ridiculed as his female alter ego and we feel disgust for those who bully him for not conforming. This goes quite a way to erasing the memories of Redmayne's very odd turn in Jupiter Ascending. I just reminded you of that, right? Sorry.
And if Redmayne is good, then Alicia Vikander is even better. As Gerda, she is called upon to be the emotional anchor for Einar and the emotional journey her character takes is just as complex as that of her husband. Vikander has an ineffable screen presence and she plays Gerda with a great deal of care, giving a fine performance that, for me, is the reason to see the movie. Matthias Schoenarts and Sebastian Koch are effective as, respectively, Einar's childhood friend Hans and the kindly, forward thinking Dr. Warnerkros but it's Vikander that walks off with the honours here.
There's no doubt that this is a production of no little quality with fabulous period detail, beautiful locations and an exceptional cast. I believe the main thing that holds The Danish Girl back from being a truly excellent film it that it fails to show the same bravery in its portrayal of transgender issues as Lily Elbe demonstrated when confronting the attitudes of a society that didn't, couldn't and wouldn't understand her situation.
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