See it at the movies

THE DANISH GIRL

By Joyce and Don Fowler
Posted 1/8/16

* * * *

(Sensual, psychological story of transgender)

Eddie Redmayne, the marvelous actor who brilliantly portrayed Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything,” has outdone himself …

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See it at the movies

THE DANISH GIRL

Posted

* * * *

(Sensual, psychological story of transgender)

Eddie Redmayne, the marvelous actor who brilliantly portrayed Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything,” has outdone himself portraying Einer Wegener/Lili Elbe in the true story of the artist who is a woman trapped in a man’s body.

The story begins in the mid-1920s as we meet Einer and his wife, Gerda (Alicia Vikander), both artists who are deeply in love and happily married. Einer slowly deals with his androgynous self and his conflicting sexual feelings, which come to the surface as he watches his wife dress and undress, eventually modeling for her by wearing her clothing. In a way, she becomes an enabler to his feelings, as both enjoy the dress-up games they play.

Things progress to a point where it is no longer a game, and Einer becomes Lili, inwardly as well as outwardly. As they reach the point of no return, the situation has a devastating effect on both partners.

In an era where any sexual deviance is unacceptable, Llli is treated by misguided medical doctors and psychiatrists until she finds someone who will perform a transgender operation. We’ll leave the rest of the story for you to see.

Be advised that there are some very explicit sexual scenes, all tastefully done, which may not be acceptable to everyone.

The photography is extraordinary. In a film about two artists, the director carefully frames every scene, whether it is a landscape or a close-up.

Rated R because of its sexuality and nudity.

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