Opened: November 27, 2015

Directed by: Tom Hooper

Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ben Whishaw, Amber Heard, Sebastian Koch, Pip Torrens, Nicholas Woodeson, Emerald Fennell & Adrian Schiller

Despite wonderful cinematography and stellar performances by Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl struggles with its story by obscuring important parts of a true story.

When Gerda Wegener (Vikander) uses her painter husband Einar (Redmayne) as a model for her portraits, they begin a game having him dress in women’s clothes and calling him Lili. As time goes on, Einar realizes he’s meant to be Lili and becomes an early patient of a sex-change operation.

Lili’s story is important be told and groundbreaking for the transgender community. Her bravery is commendable. Redmayne is moving in the lead role but is overshadowed by Vikander’s Gerda. Most of the film seems to focus on how the transition affects her.

Gerda’s own sexuality is erased and her ending with Lili is altered for a more cinematic tragedy.

Final say: Historical fiction. ★★★☆☆