Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander and Matthias Schoenarts
‘A Marvellous Masterpiece’
Few actors in Hollywood entertain audiences like Eddie Redmayne. Following his successful recognition during the 2000’s, Redmayne has become an icon in Hollywood. Whether it’s tales of professors, bold historical figures or transgenders, Redmayne has portrayed many characters. Arguably, Redmayne’s greatest strength as an actor is his commitment. Adopting an approach of method acting, Redmayne has always committed himself to every role he is playing. He’s one of those actors that has always poured both his heart and soul into every single role. Shining a bright light, he has become one of the most commemorated actors in Hollywood earning the spotlight. Through his abilities to portray powerful characters that prove to be compelling, Redmayne has built a legacy that is lasting. Throughout his career, Redmayne has portrayed several strong characters that are compelling. A British icon, Redmayne has become a commemorated actor from Britain that audiences have grown to cherish. Through the course of an illustrious career, Redmayne has appeared in many memorable movies which audiences value.
I’m a huge fan of Redmayne and adore all the films he has made in his career. However, “The Danish Girl” is definitely my favourite. Since its release in 2015, Redmayne’s movie has stood the test of time as a classic. Packed with bold production, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it’s one of the best period dramas ever made. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance by Eddie Redmayne, capturing a personality of a real-life transgender painter. Ultimately, what makes “The Danish Girl” a masterpiece is its message. The film delivers a strong message about importance of finding one’s sexual identity which will resonate with everyone. Unlike most movies about lives of transgender communities, it tackles universal themes everyone would relate to. A riveting masterpiece about a transgender artist, there are several strong reasons why “The Danish Girl” is a movie which is definitely without any doubt worth seeing.
Based on a true story, “The Danish Girl” tells the tale of a transgender artist which seeks to discover his identity. Eddie Redmayne portrays Einar Wegener, a prestigious painter that has a love for art. Einar has always share a strong bond with his wife Gerda (Alicia Vikander), a woman that he loves dearly. However, Einar’s life forever changes when he discovers that he is a transgender. Adopting an alternate identity of Lili, Einar embarks on the journey to find his sexuality. Questioning whether he is a man or a woman, Einar finds himself facing a dilemma in an era of homophobia. Making a decision to have a transgender surgery, Einar strives to change his identity. As he faced obstacles of homophobia, Einar questions whether he can discover his sexuality identity in a restrictive era.
Tom Hooper is a newcomer towards stories of transgender artists. Before he directed “The Danish Girl”, Hooper had never made a movie about LGBTQ communities. Hooper was most renowned for his Oscar-winning movie “The King’s Speech”. His previous film “The King’s Speech” offered an engaging glimpse at the struggle faced by a king suffering with speech problems in the royal family. With “The Danish Girl”, however, Hooper created his first LGBTQ drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to dramatize the lives of transgender artists, but he succeeds tremendously. Using spellbinding cinematography, Hooper captures an artist embarking on a journey to find his sexuality. Visually, the movie is a stunning feast for the eyes. Hooper successfully uses montages to capture an artist embarking upon a journey to find his sexual identity. For instance, montages elevate the cross-dressing scene. During this unforgettable scene, Gerda dresses up Einar as a beautiful woman to prepare for a party. Using montages, Hooper captures hardships transgender artists go through. Montages are tricky technique: to use in movies. As James Marsh’s “The Theory of Everything” claimed, montages enhances biopics abut physicists. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Through stunning visuals, Hooper captures obstacles transgender artists in past eras are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “The Danish Girl” is the production-design. Through a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Hooper has always had an aptitude designing production for his films, and his strengths are evident in “The Danish Girl”. Hooper effectively uses production-design to capture the lives of transgender artists facing transformations in their identity. One of the highlights of the film is the costume-design. Hooper effectively uses costumes to showcase Einar’s transformation into Lili. For instance, costume-design elevates the party scene. During this memorable scene, Einar transforms into Lili to meet his boyfriend in secret. One admired costume-design which captures the lives of transgender artists facing a decline. Through stunning costumes, Hooper captures the hardships transgender artists go through. Furthermore, the score is engrossing. Alexander Desplat’s music is integral towards the success of the movie. It gives the movie an engaging atmosphere capturing the struggles of artists which are queer. Using phenomenal production, Hooper captures hardships faced by transgender communities that experience destruction.
Storytelling is one of the key reasons why “The Danish Girl” is a classic that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture transgender artists enduring a bad experience. Hooper’s greatest strength as a screenwriter is his abilities to capture the hardships faced by transgender artists using silence. Throughout the movie, Hooper deftly uses sequences of silence to capture lives of transgender artists questioning their identities. For instance, silence enhances the emotional breakdown scene. During this heartfelt scene, Lili has an emotional breakdown after she is mistreated by her lover causing despair. One admires silence capturing the hardships that transgender artists are experiencing. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Celine Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” proved clearly, silences elevate movies about lesbian lovers. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Hooper captures the lives of commemorated transgender artists facing a price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Eddie Redmayne delivers one of his greatest performances as Einar Wegener. Redmayne achieved appreciation for portraying inspiring physicists in biopics. With “The Danish Girl”, however, he took on his most challenging role. It isn’t easy to embody the personality of a legendary transgender artist that underwent gender surgery, but Redmayne succeeded tremendously. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most iconic role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and resentments of a transgender artist on a journey to discover his sexual identity. It’s an incredible performance from one of the most celebrated actors working in the film industry today.
Alicia Vikander is amazing as a woman which faces a dilemma when she finds her husband is a transgender artist. While Redmayne gets the showier role, Vikander is also superb and worthy of appreciation. Vikander has always had an aptitude for conveying emotions by her expressions, and “The Danish Girl” showcased her strengths as an actress. Whether she is questioning her identity or grieving the loss of her husband, Vikander successfully uses her expressions to capture the hardships faced by women facing transgender communities. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most talented actresses today.
Finally, “The Danish Girl” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing hardships endured by transgender artists. Unlike most movies about transgender communities, the film tackles universal themes everyone would relate to. It tackles strong themes such as identity, marriage and sexuality which will resonate with everyone. It delivers a bold message about the importance of finding sexual identity which would resonate with everyone.
Fans of Eddie Redmayne will definitely enjoy “The Danish Girl” and so will movie-goers seeking heartwarming entertainment. A captivating biopic about queer artists, it celebrates an actor that has built a legacy which is iconic.
Nearly 10 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about transgender artists embarking on journeys to experience genre surgeries facing obstacles that are challenging, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that has gained a huge following earning worldwide recognition for his abilities to portray larger-than-life characters which are compelling whose engaging movies are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 